In our previous blog post, we covered some tips for homeowners to follow in regards to helping their air conditioner last through the rest of our warm weather this season. Summer may officially be over in just a few days, however, that doesn’t mean that your cooling system isn’t still at risk of problems.
You may very well find yourself in need of air conditioning repair in Post Falls, ID within the coming weeks. And you’ll perhaps be tempted to put off such service until next year. After all, you won’t need your AC system for much longer this year, right? Unfortunately, this can be a costly mistake.
What Could Happen?
Withholding needed repairs for your cooling system can lead to a host of future problems, including:
- An increased chance that the AC will abruptly fail during a fall heat wave—and they do happen!
- A rise in utility bills as the cooling system struggles to do its job.
- A decrease in the overall equipment life of your system, which means premature replacement.
- An increased likelihood that you’ll need a costly emergency repair or that you’ll have more than one simple repair on your hands.
It pays to keep a close eye on your air conditioner and watch for any signs of trouble, even if the AC system seems to still be doing its job. An odd noise, a compressor that starts and stops often (called short-cycling), or a single room that seems to be warmer than the others are all indications that you’re dealing with a possible AC malfunction.
Some Common Late Season Problems
Natural wear and tear is what causes most of the AC malfunctions and failures during this time of the year. Some that you may run into include:
Inability to Exhaust Heat: This happens if your outdoor unit—the condenser—accumulates too much dirt and grime, restricting this part of the system from properly expelling the heat that has been sent outward.
Dirty Evaporator Coil: This can happen due to a clogged up air filter, and it’s a problem because it will eventually restrict how well the coil is able to absorb heat. This equates to a rise in electrical costs, and drop in cooling power.
Leaking Refrigerant: Too many homeowners think that refrigerant loss is a normal part of their AC system’s operation. But refrigerant does not run out or deplete like, say, gasoline from a car. Rather, your system is equipped with enough during installation to ideally last its entire lifespan. If you are losing refrigerant, it means you have a leak—and this will lead to multiple operational troubles.
Hard Starting: This describes when the compressor has trouble starting up—often making clicking and grinding sounds. This might be caused by failing capacitors, stress on the compressor motor, or even a build up of dirt and dust on the compressor.
ACI Northwest is here to help with your home comfort needs or concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact us for helpful advice!