After some time of use, the AC in your Rhode Island home can start to wane in performance, making your home feel as hot as the temperature of its exterior.
The good thing is that your AC is very unlikely to break down without first giving you a few warning signs. Paying attention to these cues will save you a lot of trouble down the line. Here in this article, we discuss six signs to look out for to know whether you need air conditioning services. For more information, visit rhodeislandhvacservices.com.
Your home temperature doesn’t reflect the thermostat setting
The thermostat is a component that acts as the controller of the air conditioning system, making the AC unit able to control the temperatures. Although a very small component of the air conditioning unit, the thermostat is what sends signals to the unit to cycle on and off. It does this by sensing the room’s temperature and then tells the unit either to start or stop the current cycle.
When the thermostat is set at a particular temperature and the room’s temperature goes below what is set, the thermostat triggers the unit to run. As soon as the temperature reaches the setting, the air conditioning unit is signaled to stop.
The thermostat must be properly calibrated and accurate to function efficiently, otherwise, it will start to take incorrect temperature readings. When this happens, it is a sign that you need to engage the service of an air conditioning service for maintenance. The professional can determine if your thermostat needs to be re-calibrated or not.
Your AC is short-cycling
When the thermostat is not well calibrated, it causes the air conditioner to run cycles more frequently than normal. When an AC unit runs cycles too frequently, it is said to be short-cycling. So, the first usual culprit of short cycling is a faulty thermostat and it is a sign that it is misreading the temperature of the room.
One of the immediate effects of short cycling you will notice is a sudden surge in your energy bills. Also, more strain will be put on your AC unit, thereby reducing its lifespan.
If your air conditioning unit is turning on and off at intermissions of less than five minutes, it may be a case of short cycling. In this case, it is time to call your air conditioning service to adjust the thermostat.
Your AC blows warm air
When your AC unit blows out warm air, it may be due to inaccurate temperature readings by a faulty thermostat. The heating mode may be activated by the thermostat because of incorrect readings of the temperature, thereby causing the AC to malfunction.
Also, obstruction of airflow due to a clogged or dirty air filter can cause the AC unit to blow warm air. The main function of the filters is to ensure that the components of the AC unit are dirt free. So, they tend to collect dirt and debris with time. How fast this happens will be determined by where you live. If the air around your home is polluted, the rate at which the filters get clogged will be fast.
Another possible culprit of your AC unit blowing warm could be dirty coils in it. For example, the accumulation of residue on the evaporator coils prevents the AC from drawing out the heat from the air. This will inevitably cause the AC to fail at cooling the air.
Once you notice that your AC is blowing warm air, then it’s time to schedule it for maintenance.
Coughs, sneezing, and sniffles
It has been found by researchers that the chance of air pollution within your home increases when the AC unit malfunctions. When the vents are clogged, air circulation in and out of your home is affected, thereby blocking the exit of polluted air from your home.
When your AC unit is not well-maintained, it results in poor air quality within your home. This can happen when the filter of your AC unit has trapped too much dirt. Because dust, dirt, and debris can be airborne, they can mix with the cool air that your AC unit is producing.
Poor air quality in your home can cause many illnesses that are air-related, thereby causing symptoms such as coughs, sneezing, and sniffles. Different forms of irritation related to respirations and eyes can also follow.
Weak airflow
In this case, the AC still blows air that feels cool, but with a weak force, therefore restricting how far the air can travel. The area close to your AC may feel cool enough, but other spots in the room away from the unit will feel warm.
This usually happens when your AC is ridden with residue. Weaker airflow is inevitable as the filters, vents, or grills of the AC are dirty.
If you notice irregular temperatures in different areas of the room while your AC unit is running, it is time you schedule maintenance with an air conditioning service. Most likely, your unit will require an air filter replacement and a thorough cleaning of the whole system.
Your AC oozing bad smells
There are many reasons your air conditioner may be emitting a bad odor, some common causes being bacteria, molds, and dead critters. The presence of moisture makes AC units a good environment for the growth of molds and bacteria. Another sign you might notice is water leakage with a horrible smell.
An overflowing or clogged drain pan can be where the excess moisture is coming from. The drain pan does the work of collecting water droplets from the unit’s cold coils. Once clogged, the pan is unable to drain water but keeps collecting water till it overflows. This eventually causes the unit to ooze bad smells.
You should contact an air conditioning service as soon as you notice that your AC unit is emitting foul smells.
Conclusion
As soon as you notice any of the signs mentioned above, know that your AC needs maintenance. Ignoring these cues for too long could result in a complete breakdown of the system, or worse, cause different health issues such as respiratory issues.
To get a list of reliable AC maintenance services in Rhode Island, you may want to check out Angie’s List. It is important that you do your research on the ac maintenance service you plan to hire before making financial commitments.
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