Signs Your AC is Broken (& when to call the pros)
The average home has an air conditioner that can last 10 years or more. But how do you know when it needs to be replaced? Here are five signs that your AC is broken:
Your air conditioner won't turn on.
If your air conditioner won't turn on, check the circuit breaker. If it's not tripped, then move to the fuse box. You should have a master switch that controls all of your fuses—you can usually find it outside or in the garage. Turn off all power for 30 minutes and then turn it back on again. If this doesn't work, move on to trying to reset your thermostat by turning it down as low as you can and waiting 20 minutes before turning it back up again (only do this if nothing else works).
If none of these steps help, call an HVAC repair service immediately.
Your air conditioner isn't blowing cold air.
If your air conditioner isn't blowing cold air, the problem may be in the thermostat or its wiring. To test this, take off the cover of your thermostat and check that its batteries are properly installed. If they aren't, replace them with fresh ones. Then check that all of its wires are securely fastened to the terminal screws on either side of it (and not loose). If you find any loose wires or connections in your thermostat's wiring, tighten them up with pliers or an adjustable wrench until they're snug against their terminals.
Lastly, if none of these things fixes your problem—if everything looks just fine but you're still not getting cool air out of your vents—you may need to replace your capacitor for an electrical charge to flow across it and make contact with those terminals I mentioned earlier (the ones attached directly together at one end). This could mean buying a new capacitor from an HVAC company like ours!
Your air conditioner is leaking water.
If you see water dripping from the air conditioner, or pooling around it, it could mean that your unit is broken. This can happen for a number of reasons:
The drain hose may be clogged with ice and snow; this blocks the flow of condensation. This will lead to water building up inside the unit (and sometimes leaking out.) To fix this problem, remove any debris from the drain hose and clear any buildup in your outdoor AC unit.
If your indoor coils are dirty or covered in mildew, they won't do their job properly—meaning that they'll fail to heat air properly and keep it moving throughout your home. To clean these coils, use something like a soft brush attachment on an electric drill to scrub away stubborn dirt or mold before removing them from their housing units so that you can wash them thoroughly with soap and water or even bleach solution if necessary (always follow manufacturer instructions).
Your energy bills are higher than usual.
If you notice a spike in your energy bill, there's a good chance that it is due to a faulty air conditioner. Your A/C unit should be able to keep the temperature of your home at an even level without needing more energy than usual. However, if you notice that the temperature in certain rooms is much higher than others and/or your overall house temperature has gone up significantly since last month—even when the windows are closed—you might have a leak somewhere in your system. Leaks will lead to extra wear on parts of your air conditioning unit as well as higher utility bills, so if this sounds like something that's happening at your house, you'll want to fix it right away!
Your air conditioner makes weird sounds.
If you hear a weird sound coming from your air conditioner, it could be broken. The good news is that there are ways to identify and fix this problem.
What is a Weird Sound?
A weird sound can be any unusual noise that comes from the unit itself. It might be something like:
A loud rattling noise that won't go away
A high-pitched squeal (similar to nails on a chalkboard)
Consistent ticking sounds throughout operation
Call an HVAC expert right away if you suspect your AC is broken
If you think your AC is broken, don't wait for a heat wave. Contact A R Engh to avoid paying more than necessary on repairs and prevent uncomfortable living conditions. If your air conditioner is broken, it will no longer be able to cool your home or office. A broken air conditioner can cause a lot of problems, including mold growth and high energy bills. If you suspect your AC isn't working properly, check the signs above and call an HVAC expert right away.
