It may be late October, but that doesn’t mean that we can escape heat waves in California. Chances are, you’re still relying on your air conditioner a fair amount to keep your home cool on a daily basis. That added demand contributes to a higher chance that problems of some kind will occur with the system. In order to protect your air conditioner from any issues that may occur during the remainder of the hot weather, it’s a good idea to be able to spot signs that there’s a problem. The faster you can identify problem symptoms, the faster you can have the system repaired and the more damage you can prevent. Have a look at some of the most common signs that your air conditioner is having issues.
Odd Noises
If you’ve had your air conditioner for any length of time, you’re probably familiar with the noises that it’s supposed to make while it’s running. If the system starts to make weird noises during operation, don’t ignore it. Strange noises tend to indicate that there is some sort of problem with the air conditioner. What kind of problem the system is dealing with, and how bad that problem is, will depend on the kinds of noises the system is making. You’re going to need a professional to examine the system to tell for certain.
Dropping Output
Falling output is a sure sign that something is wrong with your air conditioner. There are a couple of different issues that could contribute to falling output capacity. If you have a refrigerant leak somewhere in the air conditioner, that could definitely cause an output drop. The less refrigerant is available in the air conditioner, the less heat the system will be able to absorb and vent out of the home. You should definitely call for repairs if you notice refrigerant leaking out of your air conditioner.
Another cause of falling output might be due to a clogged air filter. While the filter is good at protecting the air conditioner from dust and other debris, it has no way of getting rid of the contaminants it collects. If the filter is not changed every three months, it can become clogged. This drops the amount of air entering the system significantly, preventing it from circulating as much air throughout the house.
Short Cycling
If your air conditioner is turning itself on and off every couple of minutes, that’s called short cycling. Short cycling might be the result of an electrical problem with the system or a damaged compressor. Either way, it poses a serious risk to the health of your air conditioner. A short cycling air conditioner is put under more strain than it is designed to handle. This causes the various parts of the air conditioner to wear down faster, increasing the cost and frequency of repairs. Make sure you call for repairs as soon as you notice your system doing this.
Comfy Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. provides AC repair in Oakland, CA. If you need any kind of help with your air conditioner, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our technicians.