So, you’re frustrated with your air conditioner. We get it! Most of the time, when customers or other readers get to this blog, it’s after a long and complicated ordeal with their air conditioning systems.
Perhaps it’s not cooling certain rooms, it’s making noises, or worse, it’s shutting down completely. What gives?
Well, many things can give. Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to diagnose an air conditioning system via blog post, or even on the phone. A professional HVAC technician will almost always need to take a closer look at the system and check under the hood.
With that in mind, there’s no problem with informing our customers about some of the potential problems that could be happening, and giving them a few strategies to help deal with them.
Here’s a hint though, the best strategy you could do right now is invest in repairs for your central air conditioning in Cedar Rapids, IA.
1. The System Is Struggling to Cool
A central air conditioner’s main priority is to cool your home. That’s a given. Once the temperature reaches a certain threshold on your thermostat, the system kicks in and brings that temperature back down so you can stay comfortable. If your AC doesn’t do this, then something is wrong.
First, we’d recommend changing out the air filter. This component helps keep contaminants out of the system so the interior components like the coils don’t get damaged. However, when it clogs up, it can inhibit airflow and cause the system to run poorly. Try running your system after this and see if there’s a difference.
2. A Bubbling and Hissing Noise
Uh oh! Looks like you’ve got a refrigerant leak.
This is a common problem, but one that requires professional support. The hissing noise is the sound of gaseous refrigerant escaping from the unit, while the bubbling sound is the formation of air bubbles in that same line.
This means your air conditioner has less refrigerant to work with while it cools your home, and it could potentially lose more refrigerant over time. Avoid this situation by getting the leak patched and refrigerant recharged ASAP.
3. It’s Shaking, Grinding, or Rattling
A rattling, shaking, or grinding air conditioner is no joke. These could be symptoms of various different problems, from a broken blower fan to a loose component. You could even have a faulty compressor if the system is making a grinding noise. Only a diagnosis from a trained professional will be able to pinpoint this issue and resolve it.
But be warned, none of these sounds are good and they will get worse over time without repairs.
4. It Keeps Shutting Off Prematurely
Ah, this sounds like a short cycling air conditioner. Firstly, we’d recommend changing the air filter like we mentioned in problem #1. If that doesn’t help, then you’re going to need to call a professional.
This problem can happen when the system cools a home down too quickly, or if it overheats and needs to abruptly shut down during the cooling cycle. This can be damaging to the components and severely impact your comfort and efficiency.
5. It Won’t Turn on at All!
Well, that’s no good! It’s nearly impossible to diagnose a problem like this online. It could be an electrical malfunction or a component failure. Get in touch with a professional and they’ll get your system up and running in no time.
At Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc., your comfort is our promise! To set up an appointment in the Cedar Rapids area, give us a call at the number above, email customerservice@daltonphc.com or schedule an appointment online.