Part 2: What are some signs your AC needs attention?

From Nexus Energy Center: Thanks again to Precision Heating and Air for the guest post! If you did not see Part One , head on over to find out the first four signs your AC may need some attention. If you’re local to the Madison and Huntsville area, give Nexus Energy Center a call. Precision Air and Heating serves the state of Arizona.

Last week we learned that our AC may be one of the top causes for our high utility bills. Did you know that your AC unit uses up to 48% of the energy consumption in the home? So if you have an old, energy hog of a unit, you are spending a lot of money. What were the signs you need a tune up from last weeks post?

• You have high energy bills
• You have a weird smell
• Strange sounds
• Weak air flow

Here are a few more signs that you may need to have your unit checked out.

Your AC unit is leaking water

Does water pool next to your air conditioner? Then there is excess moisture or worse, a leak somewhere in your AC unit. When there is moisture or water in places where it shouldn’t be, it could mean that your AC unit has a broken or blocked drain tube which is supposed to remove the condensation the air conditioner produces. A worse scenario is a refrigerant leak, which is a very serious problem. Call your air conditioning company the moment you see wet spots, drips or leaks around your air conditioner to prevent your unit from sustaining damage.

 It doesn’t cool your home anymore

You’ve got your AC running full blast, and it’s generating a nice, steady airflow. One hour later, you’re drenched in sweat, because your AC is no longer doing its job. Some of the reasons an AC unit is not generating cool air include filthy air filters, a problem with the fan or fan motor, and thermostat issues. The situation could be worse if the lack or absence of cool air is due to problems with the electronic control board or PCB assembly, a failing capacitor or a defective thermistor, a component found on electronic control models. The thermistor keeps an eye on the incoming air temperature and tells the main control board when to turn the compressor on or off.

Electric control failure

It is natural for electrical connections in your AC unit to wear out over time. They could corrode and fail after years of turning the air conditioner on and off day in and day out. So if you notice a delay or complete failure when switching your AC on or off, it’s possible the wires are no longer in a healthy state and may even be damaged already, which poses the risk of an electrical fire.

Ice buildup

You know there’s a problem with your air conditioner when you see ice forming on it. There are usually two reasons why this happens. Your AC could be suffocating because of insufficient airflow, which, in turn, may be caused by very dirty air filters, too few return ducts, damaged duct work or dirty evaporator coils. With improper airflow, the coils drop below freezing, and collect all the humidity in the air, creating a buildup of ice on your air conditioner.

An even worse reason for ice buildup on your AC is a problem with your refrigerant. Refrigerant might be leaking, which lessens your AC system’s efficiency and causes the coils containing the refrigerant to become too cold and build up ice. The fact that leaking refrigerant also causes harm to the environment should make you more vigilant about having air conditioning professionals perform regular maintenance on your air conditioner.

Don’t ignore these signs

The only way to keep your AC unit running optimally and efficiently is to have it serviced on a regular basis. And if you notice any of the signs mentioned above, don’t ignore them. If you do nothing about the problems your AC unit is manifesting, you are not just condemning your air conditioner to its doom. You are also endangering your life and that of your family, especially when most of these problems could lead to a fire or worse. Have your air conditioner serviced by qualified professionals, and extend its life, save money on energy bills, and keep your family cool and safe.

Nexus Energy Center can help with those high energy bills by analyzing your homes energy performance. Give us a call to have an energy audit done on your home today!