Air conditioners need to function all day every day during the summer, and with temperatures in the area on the rise, homeowners would be well-advised to ensure that their system is ready to go. If problems exist in a given air conditioning systems – either left from last summer or forming over the winter – now is the best time to identify them and take care of them by calling in a repair service.
Check for Trouble
Laymen should never attempt to diagnose a problem with their air conditioner, at least formally. Air Conditioners are complex and delicate pieces of equipment requiring careful training and licensing to properly determine the source of the problem and make proper repairs. However, most homeowners have at least a basic notion of what their systems sound like and act like while running.
Those who may be concerned about the status of their air conditioner can simply turn it on and let it run for 15-20 minutes, then check for anything out of the ordinary. Common signs of a problem can include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Low Air Flow, or air that doesn’t move through the vents as quickly as expected. This can be caused by a blockage in the ducts, or by problems with the fan or fan motor in most cases.
- Reduced Cooling Levels, which means that the air coming out of the vents isn’t as cool as expected. It can be caused by anything from leaking refrigerant to an overheating component to a breach in the ducts.
- Strange Noises. Most air conditioners make a certain amount of noise when they run. Strange noises qualify as anything that doesn’t match those sounds: clangs, hums, rattles, moans and the like. In most cases, such sounds will start and stop with the starting and the stopping of the air conditioner itself.
- Short Cycling. This is the process whereby the air conditioner turns on, runs for a short amount of time, and turns off again, only to turn on a few minutes later as the heat of the day warms the house up.
In the event such problems are detected, the homeowner should shut the system off and call in a repair technician immediately to get the issue fixed.
Why Now?
As with many things, getting ahead of a given problem is usually the best way to fix it. Temperatures are still mild enough that most homeowners won’t need their air conditioners to run regularly for another few weeks. That in turn provides the time to schedule repairs at a convenient point and have the system ready to go by the time the first heat wave hits.
Contrast that with experiencing a serious breakdown in the middle of the heat of summer. Not only is the homeowner forced to scramble in the face of an emergency repair call, but the repairs are likely to cost more than they might before the breakdown, since the damage has had more time to spread.
For top-notch air conditioning repair in Queens, NY call on Yost & Campbell Heating, Cooling & Generators today!