How to Tell When You Need Air Conditioning Repair Service
Air conditioning systems have been providing people with air cooling and optimal indoor air quality since the turn of the 20th century. Modern technology has given us these remarkable machines that excel at keeping us comfortable — until they don’t.
That’s when most people start thinking it might be time to find a good air conditioning repair service. One way to ensure your HVAC warranty and have uninterrupted energy efficiency is to establish a regular maintenance program with a reputable air conditioning repair company.
Whether you’re looking for AC repair, maintenance or installation, Absolute Refrigeration is the only Lubbock HVAC company you need to call.
Why You Would Want to Use Air Conditioning Service
Absolute Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning has been providing quality HVAC products, services, installation and repair to the residents of Lubbock for the last 18 years. Our team of licensed and certified expert technicians are here to help you keep your cooling system operating at its optimal level of performance year in and year out.
With regular maintenance of your cooling system, you not only reduce your expenses over the lifetime of your air conditioner but also avoid potentially costly repair service. We give you that peace of mind so you do not have to worry about your system failing.
What to Look for When Your AC is Not Performing Correctly
We have some tips on what to look out for if your AC is not operating up to par. There are some quick checks you can do to try to figure out why your air conditioner has stopped working:
When you are not sure where to start, it is always good practice to check your breakers. Sometimes, a fluctuation or surge in power can flip the circuit breaker. Check the emergency shut-off switch located outside near the condenser unit. Look for this switch to be housed in a protective metal box. Make sure it is switched to the “ON” position. You may have a normal electrical switch near the HVAC unit. Turn this switch on and try running the AC.
Inside the house, it could be a thermostat malfunction. A blown fuse could deactivate either the thermostat or the AC unit or both, especially following a recent storm. Commonly, the battery housed inside the thermostat control box located on the wall is dead — an easy item to forget about, but one which needs to be changed now and then.
If it has been awhile, you might go ahead and replace it with a fresh cell. Test the control by lowering the temperature setting making sure it is set to “cool,” which should cause the AC to kick on. If none of these checks produce positive results, you may want to give us a call to come out and check the unit.
If the AC runs but does not cool the house, check your air filter inside the house. Another easily forgotten item, a clogged air filter, will impede the air flow — causing your system to work harder to pull the air through. Any time your system must work harder while performing poorly, your energy bills will reflect it.
You do not want to be paying more for bad indoor air quality. The more frequently you use your system, the more often you need to check your filters. When you are on a regular maintenance program, we take care of this for you on either an annual or semi-annual basis.
How To Tell if the Compressor is Bad?
The compressor unit has a fan that sucks in the air sending it over cooling fins before it passes through tubes on its way to the ventilation system.
Symptoms of a bad compressor include:
- Higher utility bills,
- Poor indoor air quality,
- Inferior performance, or
- The AC shutting down.
A bad or worn compressor decreases efficiency when it cannot sufficiently compress the gas. You can step outside to appreciate the sound your compressor unit is making. If you detect a hissing noise, it could indicate a refrigerant leak.
If the unit takes a long time to start up and makes a knocking noise, the motor may not be operating correctly. Another easy test you can perform is to place your hand over the fan to see if the air coming out is cool or warm. The high pressure created by a compressor causes heat that is then expelled by the fan to prevent overheating.
Since the compressor is regularly pulling the outdoor air through the system, it is susceptible to the buildup of dust, dirt and other random materials that get lodged in the fins blocking airflow much the same way a clogged air filter will. You can power down the system and thoroughly clean the inside of the condenser unit, being careful not to damage the fins. Again, our regular maintenance program offers this as part of our AC maintenance services.
If you are having AC trouble, are interested in having your air conditioner checked out by our technicians or want to learn more about getting on a regular maintenance program to avoid costly repairs, give Absolute Refrigeration a call today. Ask us about our tune-up special!