A modern air conditioning system is designed to keep your home cool and comfortable no matter what the temperature is outdoors. These systems are pretty resilient, but they are complex and they do need some regular attention to work efficiently. Scheduling and inspection and some maintenance at the beginning of each cooling season is a great way to protect your system and ensure maximum energy efficiency. But, when something goes wrong with AC there are five things that you should avoid or you may make the problem far worse and more expensive to fix.
1. Attempt to Patch a Refrigerant Leak
Many people believe that their air conditioner systems cool their homes, but this isn’t technically true. A better way to describe the process is that the AC system removes heat from the home to make it cooler. This may seem like a trivial distinction, but it’s important when you consider the role of refrigerants in this process. The refrigerant is kept under pressure, it turns from a liquid to a gas and back again as it circulates through your home. It carries the heat out of the home and when the refrigerant level falls the performance and efficiency of your entire system are compromised. The most common reason for a lack of refrigerant is a leak in a line that isn’t too hard to identify.
There are many DIY tutorials online to recharge or top up the refrigerant, but this is a bad idea and it’s best left to a qualified HVAC specialist. First, refrigerant is harmful to breathe if you are unused to handling it and it can affect your nose, mouth, and even eyes. Another problem is that there are different types of refrigerants and if you mix them, you will lower the efficiency of your entire HVAC system. Simply placing some duct tape over a refrigerant leak isn’t a permanent fix and it will not be up to code. If you notice a drop in cooling performance, contact your local certified HVAC specialist and ask them to take a look.
2. Opening the Outdoor AC Unit
The outdoor AC unit can be opened to perform maintenance and repairs, but this work should be carried out by an HVAC specialist. Remember this is a complex piece of equipment and it contains sensitive components that can be easily damaged if you don’t know what you’re doing. Your HVAC system represents a significant investment and it makes good sense to protect it from unnecessary damage. One of the lesser known issues of an attempted DIY repair is that you will void the warranty when you open up the unit and attempt a repair. If you have an AC system that is still under warranty, this is worth a great deal if you have a problem later.
3. Ignoring Strange Noises
Under normal operating conditions you can expect to hear the air coming from vents or a noise when the HVAC system turns on. But, if you can hear strange noises, they shouldn’t be ignored because they can be a warning that there is something wrong. This is particularly true if you can hear sounds, such as: grinding, screeching, and banging. The HVAC system is a complex system with electronic, electrical, and mechanical parts. Some of those components, such as the fan that pushes air through the system, are designed to move. If a part is out of alignment or it has failed, it can make noises and it could damage other nearby components. If the problem is investigated and fixed early, it can reduce the chance of damage being caused to another part. Obviously, the less damage caused the less expensive the replacement or repair bill. So, if you hear a strange noise, contact your local certified heating and cooling specialist early to minimize the potential for further damage.
4. Ignoring Rising Energy Bills
Some homeowners don’t track their energy bills across the entire year and that is a mistake. When an energy bill rises dramatically it’s easier to notice, but if it goes up gradually it may take some time to see the change for a while. There is no single repair that can fix a rise in energy bills caused by your HVAC system. It’s more accurate to say that an aging system loses efficiency over its 10-15 years of use. But, you can offset those energy efficiency losses for longer if you schedule regular maintenance for your system.
The air conditioner should be inspected and tested prior to the start of each cooling system. The technician will check all the key components to ensure that the system will work safely and efficiently for the season ahead. Well maintained heating and cooling equipment is less prone to failure when you need it most which is an added bonus. It’s also worth mentioning that you may be able to increase the useful lifespan to the upper end of the aforementioned range with regular maintenance. This may delay your need for a replacement system for a few years which can save you a lot of money in the long term.
5. Ignoring On and Off Warnings
When your AC system is turning on and off again quickly, this is known as short cycling. This is a serious problem, there are few possible causes, such as an incorrectly sized system, a lack of refrigerant, or an electrical issue. In fact, short cycling can even occur if you don’t change your air filters regularly because the airflow is impeded. Short cycling can drive up your energy bills and introduce extra stress on your hard working system. You can change your air filters with no special training and the full instructions are in your owner’s manual. But, if you have another problem it’s time to call your local certified heating and cooling specialist for expert help.
If you have a problem with your air conditioning system or you want to schedule some regular maintenance, contact your local HVAC specialist today.