When something goes wrong with your AC system, getting the necessary repairs done promptly makes a huge difference. It can keep that specific repair minimal, rather than allowing time for a problem to worsen and cause more damage that is more time-consuming and costly to fix. It will also help avoid increasing electric bills as the struggling unit keeps working harder and harder.
The key here is to realize right away that something is wrong. Only then can you get repairs promptly enough. How can you tell that your air conditioner needs repair? Some of the clearest signs are sounds and smells. Use your ears and nose! Here’s what to be aware of.
Sounds Your Air Conditioner Shouldn’t Make
Any sound that is out of the ordinary is cause for concern. Your air conditioner’s noises should be low and steady, just whirring and humming. What might you hear when there’s a problem?
- Booming: A boom from the outdoor unit at the start of the cooling cycle is called hard starting and may require a hard-start kit with an additional capacitor to help provide a boost in power for the start-up process.
- Clattering: Any moving part that comes loose, such as a fan blade, can make quite a clatter. Get air conditioning repair before that loose part damages another component!
- Buzzing: This is probably not caused by bees (though it is possible!). Chances are, either a slightly loose part is vibrating and simply needs to be tightened, or an electrical component is having a problem. Since electrical problems pose safety hazards like electrical shock and fire, get it fixed right away.
- Clicking: Again, this could be a mechanical sound and a sign of a very minor problem, or it could be caused by an electrical component malfunctioning, so be cautious and have it checked out as soon as possible.
- Whistling: When you whistle with your mouth, you force air through a very small opening. This is likely what’s happening when you hear a whistle from your AC: there’s a gap somewhere, and air is being forced through. It could be a loose seal in the air conditioner or a damaged section of ductwork, and either way, it needs repair so you won’t cause excess wear and tear to your AC unit.
- Hissing or Bubbling: The coils that loop through the whole system, indoor unit and out, are full of refrigerant. This chemical changes the state between liquid and gas as it absorbs and releases heat. A damaged coil can allow refrigerant to leak, so if you hear either of these sounds, you need a technician to repair the coil and refill the refrigerant.
Smells Your Air Conditioner Shouldn’t Make
There are absolutely no smells that your air conditioner should make, so if you detect any odors at all, you need air conditioning repair in Janesville, WI. Here are some things you might smell.
- Mildew: This can grow either in your ductwork or your AC condensate pan. In the pan, it can clog the drain and cause other problems. No matter where it is, it’s not good to breathe!
- Bacteria: This can smell sour, like vinegar, or rotten, like trash that should have been taken out a few days ago. Again, either your ducts or your condensate pan are places where moisture can allow things to grow.
- Heat: Anything that smells hot—burning dust, melting plastic, etc.—is a serious issue. Don’t allow it to continue, or it could start a fire!
- Fish: Oddly, electrical fire can make a fishy odor, because it produces ammonia. If you think there’s any risk of fire, turn off the AC unit and get repairs immediately.
You can always count on 24-Hour Home Comfort Services, your heating and cooling specialists.