Once I purchased my first home, I realized that I needed to do my part in caring for my home appliances. In addition to reading the user manuals for my kitchen appliances and state-of-the-art plumbing system, I realized that I also needed to do a little research about HVAC. Because I had no experience with HVAC systems, I called out a professional to teach me a thing or two. It was fascinating to talk with him, and I was able to take notes about all kinds of important topics, such as maintenance, troubleshooting, and even shopping for a new system. This blog is all about understanding HVAC guidelines.
Understanding HVAC Guidelines
Signs Of An Air Conditioner System Failure
Marilou Girard
Everyone wants their air conditioner to work during the summer so that they can stay cool. However, it is always possible that the stress of constant use can cause the unit to fail when you need cold air the most. Here are some signs to look out for that your air conditioner is failing and needs repair or replacement.
Water Pooling
The air handler unit in your home will produce some condensation from the cold air traveling through it. However, it is not good to see water that is pooling around the base of the unit. This problem can be due to a couple of reasons.
A common issue is that the drain line that is cracked or damage and needs to be replaced since it is allowing water to flow out of the tube and spill out onto the floor. The other reason could be from a condensate drain that is clogged. The pan is filling up with water and overflowing, causing the water to cover your floor.
Banging
Your air conditioner is not exactly a silent appliance, often producing a humming sound that can be heard while it is operating. It's a sound most people get used to and barely notice after living in the home. However, be concerned when you start hearing banging noises from the unit. Banging is often caused by a bad motor, fan belt, or the fan itself. You'll need to have this problem diagnosed by a professional HVAC contractor so that they can repair the right part and prevent it from getting worse.
Burning Odor
Your air conditioner doesn't produce an odor in your home while it is running. That's why you should be a concern if you ever walk by the appliance and smell a bad odor coming from it. Odors can be caused by electrical problems where the wire itself is burning, which will require a service call from a professional to fix the problem. The smell shouldn't go away on its own and is caused by something being damaged, so act immediately.
Short Cycling
Do you notice that your air conditioner quickly turns on and off during the day but your home is not reaching the set temperature on the thermostat? This is due to the unit short cycling, which is typically caused by the evaporator coil freezing up. You'll need to take steps to have the refrigerant line repaired if there is a leak, clean the coils of the evaporator coil, and figure out why the part is freezing up.
Contact a local air conditioning service company if you come across a problem.
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