We still have a few weeks of cold weather left, but summer will be here before you know it. You should schedule preventive maintenance for your system within the next couple of months, but you should also keep a careful eye on it once you start using it on a regular basis. Air conditioner issues are typically the result of increased stress on the system, and while they do not necessarily give off warning signs all the time, much of the time they will. You need to be able to identify the signs that your system is in trouble, so that you can properly address them if and when they show up.
Strange Noises
Unusual noises are among the first signs that something is going wrong, in many cases. If you’ve had your air conditioner for longer than a season, you probably know the kinds of noises it makes when it’s operating. If you start to hear anything that you’re not used to hearing from the system, call for repairs right away.
The problems indicated by strange noises depend on the type of noise being generated. For example, a grinding noise is often due to an air handler beginning to malfunction. Hissing and gurgling noises, meanwhile, are often due to a leak in the refrigerant line.
High Operating Costs
It’s one thing to use your air conditioner more often, and to have your monthly bills go up. That much is expected, after all. It’s another thing entirely, though, to have your monthly bills start going up and you not knowing exactly why. Unexplained increases in monthly air conditioning costs could mean that the system is struggling to accomplish its usual efficient climate control, perhaps leading to longer cycling times that would translate to higher monthly costs. Consider calling a technician to examine your system if that happens.
Short Cycling
Short cycling is a behavior in which the air conditioning system turns itself on and off every couple of minutes. It’s more common with heating systems, but air conditioners can have it, as well. The problem can be caused by a variety of issues, including a damaged compressor or a short-circuit in the thermostat. The cause isn’t quite so important as what will happen if you don’t have the issue repaired.
Short cycling puts a lot of strain on the air conditioner, far more than it was designed to handle. Long periods of short cycling will cause parts of the system to break down more often than usual, and will eventually shorten the lifespan of the system as a whole. As soon as you notice that your air conditioner is short cycling, it’s a very good idea to call for repairs as soon as possible. The faster we can repair the system, the better off it will be.
Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing offers a full range of air conditioning repair services in Gaithersburg, MD. If you need air conditioning repairs, contact us today for an appointment. We’ll keep your air conditioner in top shape throughout the summer season.