6 Signs You May Be In Need Of AC Repair in Austin

Central air conditioner unit, from left side (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If your air conditioner just isn’t working the way it used to, it may be time to seek a qualified HVAC technician for AC repair in Austin. The worst time for your air conditioner to start acting up is in the middle of a hot summer day when temperatures are on the rise. These signs may indicate a problem that needs fixed before you experience a system breakdown; call an AC contractor if you experience any of the following:

Excessive Noise

The motor on your air conditioner is normally pretty quiet but all of a sudden it begins making a loud noise every time the blower kicks on. The noise starts out as a loud rumble that increases in volume as the unit cycles getting louder and louder until you’re tempted to just turn it off because it’s so loud. Grinding or squealing noises are not normal and are often caused by a problem with either the motor or the fan.

Inadequate Cooling

The AC unit in your home was chosen according to the number of square feet and the cooling needs of the home.  Each unit is designed to cool an average of so many square feet, so if your unit is no longer performing the way it should it may need to have the refrigerant checked or the unit may just be old and need replaced. If there is no cold air coming out through the vents the compressor may have stopped working.

Continuous Cycling

Does your air conditioner run longer than usual? Continuous cycling is the system trying to maintain a set temperature and keeps turning on because the temperature is not staying steady and it’s trying to compensate. Your system running continuously uses more energy and of course your bills will be higher than normal.

High Energy Bills
 

You may not have obvious signs of trouble yet, but high utility bills are also an indicator that you are consuming large amounts of energy and most often your air conditioner is to blame. It is not working as efficiently as it should be. Your thermostat may not be working properly or there could be some kind of interference with its ability to read.

Strange Odor

You may experience an odd smell the first time you turn on your air conditioner after sitting all winter. The smell is just the accumulation of dust and stagnant air pulled through the intake vents and as it passes over the coils it sometimes gives off a funny odor that disappears after the first few minutes its running. If that odd smell doesn’t go away after a few minutes or is more like a foul odor, you may have a problem with your ductwork.  A musty or moldy smell could indicate that your ducts are not sealed properly and moisture has gotten in through cracks and created a mold colony.  A burnt smell could be caused by wiring that has gotten too hot and burned through the insulation inside the unit.

Condensation or Moisture Buildup

Part of what your AC unit does besides cooling the air inside your home is removing the humidity in the air, providing a drier environment to keep down the growth of mold and other microbes that thrive in a warm, damp environment. Condensation buildup is a sign that the tubing or condensate drain may be clogged. 

AC Repair Service

If you are experiencing any of these problems, give us a call for quick and speedy AC repair in Austin.  ABA Heating and Cooling are experts in the industry and service most brands of heating and cooling systems. Our technicians are NATE certified and we offer free estimates for repairs and new installations.