Warning Signs Your AC is in Need of Repair
You will know if your air conditioner has started to put out sounds that are unfamiliar. Or perhaps you have been at the thermostat more than once for no apparent reason, and yet your home is not as comfortable as it should be while your energy bills go up.
Homeowners will put off asking these questions until the system makes a complete stop, typically on the year’s hottest afternoon. We at Bickel Heating & Cooling have been in the business of forestalling such problems for ten years now with clients in South Bend and the Michiana area. A phone call to (574) 800-4559 is all it takes if you sense something amiss.
An air conditioner will seldom fail without some kind of notice; they are apt to send signals for weeks or months before they break down for good. One can learn to interpret them and in doing so avoid a costly replacement, make do with a simple repair and be spared of a few days without any cooling.
Sounds and Smells Warranting a Second Look
There is a certain hum to an AC in normal operation. New noises are the system’s way of communicating.
Be on the lookout for:
- The unit grinding, screeching or squealing
- Any banging or clanking indicative of a part gone loose or broken
- Repeated clicking as the system goes to start
- Mustiness from the vents, a telltale of mold or moisture in the ducts
- An electrical or burning smell; this is cause to shut the system off and put in a call for assistance
People can become accustomed to such things and let them go, but what is a minor noise one day will be a sizeable bill the next.
Weak Airflow and Uneven Cooling
When the air from your vents is feeble or there are warm pockets in some rooms and not others, the system is having difficulty. Be it a clogged filter, low refrigerant, blocked ductwork or a compressor on its last legs, it is putting undue stress on the rest of the apparatus and is not going to resolve itself. You may be inclined to chalk up uneven cooling to an old house, but a professional will often find a correctable cause.
Short Cycling and Constant Running
In proper working order an AC will run its course and turn off. There are two ways of behaving that are not normal.
See if the system is:
- Cycling on and off in quick succession
- Running almost nonstop and never hitting the set temperature
- Humidifying the house despite being on
- Going through shorter or longer cycles than of yore
A system that does not quit running is wasting energy and short cycling is hard on the components. It is best to get a repair in to prevent further trouble.
Higher Bills and Humidity
The numbers on your utility bill do not lie about the condition of your AC. Efficiency is lost and the system has to put in more work for less, resulting in a steeper cost each month. Should the bill increase and your usage has not, look to the air conditioner.
Then there is the matter of humidity. The AC is meant to draw moisture from the air. If the home is damp or sticky with the system in operation, the equipment is not holding up its end.
Ice, Moisture and Leaks
Do not overlook any ice or water pooling by the unit. Left to their own devices, issues like frozen coils, drainage or a refrigerant leak will only get worse. Ice on the lines is usually a cover for trouble with the airflow or refrigerant.
Make the Call
We are here around the clock to have a system checked before it gives out. Should another company have made an assessment you have reservations about we will give a second opinion. We also have financing to ease the burden of a larger bill and free estimates.
Bickel Heating & Cooling is your resource in South Bend, Mishawaka, Bremen and the rest of the Michiana. Rather than wait for a hot day to discover your AC has quit, ring us at (574) 800-4559 and we will see to it that a small issue does not get out of hand.
