You may not realize, but your air conditioning unit could need to be repaired or replaced. Click here to learn the signs that show you should be repairing your air conditioning.
If you live in a very hot region, you need to have your AC running or you could experience heat stroke and other complications. Not only could you have problems with your health but your pets could also have problems.
Repairing air conditioning may be a DIY job sometimes but other times, you need a professional to help you with air conditioner repair. Continue reading this article to learn when you should call in the professionals to help you with your AC repair needs.
Top Signs Repairing Air Conditioning Is Not a DIY Project
Air conditioning repair is important and you need to make sure you get the air conditioning back on track in a timely manner. These top signs will help you make a decision if it’s time to give the professionals a call.
- Blowing Warm Air
If your air conditioner is blowing warm air, it’s kind of working against your end goal, isn’t it? Don’t try to wait around for it to fix itself. In this case, things aren’t likely to get better and you should speak with a professional about getting your AC fixed.
There are different possibilities for why your air conditioner is blowing warm air. Your air conditioner may be experiencing a problem with the compressor or your air conditioner may be low on refrigerant.
Before you jump to conclusions, you might want to check simple issues like seeing if the air conditioner’s thermostat is set properly. If the thermostat was moved to heat instead of air conditioning that would explain why the air is hot.
If you have children, that might explain how the thermostat went from cold to hot.
- Poor Airflow
If your air conditioner isn’t blowing air very well, it isn’t going to cool your house no matter how cold the air coming from it is. While it isn’t blowing hot air and heating your home, it isn’t doing its job and cooling your home.
Poor airflow might indicate problems with your air ducts, could be a problem with your compressor or another challenge. This is definitely a situation when you want to call a professional since there are so many possibilities.
- Thermostat Is Showing Inaccurate Information
If your thermostat isn’t working, your whole AC may be off. Your thermostat tells the AC what it should be doing from when to shut off to how much cool air to let out.
Your AC might not turn on at all or it might run for the wrong amount of time. Whether it’s freezing you or burning you — these are both major problems. The electrical components of your thermostat are confusing and you shouldn’t try to fix things on your own.
- Loud Noises
If your AC is making loud noises while in operation, it’s likely a problem with the belt in the AC. If the motor in the AC is making the noises, it may be going bad.
Any time that your AC is making a loud noise, you should stop using it right away and call a professional to come to look at it.
- Smells Bad
You walk into your home and you notice a strange smell. The further you walk into the home, the more you notice the smell and find it is coming from the AC.
What is that?
The smell you’re experiencing may smell like a moldy or mildewy odor. The smell comes from moisture building up on your coil in the air conditioner. Mold and mildew are more than happy to grow there because of the perfect climate for them.
- It’s More Than 10 Years Old
If your air conditioner is more than 10 years old, you might want to have it checked over even if it isn’t on the fritz. It’s better to take care of your air conditioner before there is a problem than to wait until there is something wrong.
The longer you wait to have your AC checked after it’s 10 years old, the more likely you are to run into severe problems.
- High or Increasing Electricity Costs
If your AC starts to run more than normal, you’ll see the spike in your electric bill. After you finish having your heart attack from looking at the cost of your bill, you need to call a repair person to fix your AC so it doesn’t do the same thing again next month.
Keep in mind that during the hot months, you may experience a higher electric bill than during the fall or spring. If you’ve taken this into account and the bill is still unusually high, you likely have a problem with your air conditioning.
What to Look for in a Great AC Company
Once you’ve determined that you do have a problem and you need to hire an AC repair company, there are some things you can do to make sure that you hire the best company for your needs and your budget.
How Long Has the Company Been in Business?
Just because a company is new that doesn’t mean that they’re not a good company but if you find a company that has been in business for a long time, there’s likely to be more information available about them.
If you do decide to look into a new company, find out how experienced their technicians are. Their technicians may have experience from working with other companies and still be the best option for your needs.
What Are Their Rates?
While rates aren’t the only thing that is important when it comes to hiring a repair company, it is important to see what offers are available from different companies so you can get the best rate on a good service call.
Are They Licensed and Insured Properly?
The company you use needs to have a license to service ACs in your state. They also need to be insured in case they experience any physical injury or cause damages to your property.
Are They Available When You Need Them?
Another important part of working with a company is making sure they can help you when you need them. If they only work a few days a week and don’t have appointments available when you’re going to be home, they might not be the best fit for you.
You also don’t want to work with a company that is overworked. If a company is overworked, they may not be able to get to your residence in time to help you with your air conditioning challenges before you feel like you’re melting.
Do They Have Favorable Online Reviews?
When you’re researching air conditioning repair companies, you should look at Google, Yelp and other review sites to see what previous customers say about them.
