It’s every homeowner’s worst nightmare in the summer. You’re battling a major heat wave and staying cool inside with the AC and ceiling fans running at full blast. Then, all of a sudden, the air conditioning goes out. What could possibly be wrong with your AC system? And how long will you have to suffer through the heat before it’s fixed?
Air conditioning issues aren’t easy to diagnose, of course, but there a few patterns we’ve noticed here in the Utica area. Here are some of the most common causes of a failing AC system.
Your AC system hasn’t been maintained properly.
Did you know that air conditioners need ongoing maintenance, just like your car does? In order to continue running at its best, an air conditioner should be serviced at least once a year, preferably at the beginning of the cooling season.
If your AC unit is less than ten years old and has broken down due to lack of maintenance, it can likely be repaired. For simple and convenient maintenance in the future, be sure to consider a service plan.
Your AC unit needs more proactive repairs.
On a similar note, it’s best to make a few small repairs here and there rather than let an AC issue escalate into a costly repair. At the first sign of trouble, be sure to schedule a repair. This will help you avoid a more serious and more expensive repair down the road.
If this does seem to be a more serious problem, don’t worry — one of our HVAC specialists can help you decide if a repair or replacement makes more financial sense in the long run.
Your AC unit isn’t properly sized for your home.
When an HVAC technician installs a new air conditioner in your home, they must perform a manual J load calculation to ensure the new AC unit is properly sized for the unique cooling needs of your home.
Unfortunately, oversized air conditioners are very common. If your air conditioner is oversized, it will turn on and off more frequently, running in short spurts without adequately reducing indoor humidity. This puts stress on your AC system and makes it more likely to break down.
It’s also possible for an air conditioner to be undersized — especially if you’ve recently added a new room or two onto your home. Undersized air conditioners run constantly without ever cooling your home, also incurring more wear and tear than they should.
Your air conditioner is simply too old.
If your air conditioner is over 10 years old — and especially if it is closer to 15 or 20 years old — a breakdown is a sign that it’s time to consider a new AC unit. Even if you think there may be another year or two left in your unit, replacing it sooner could save you more money in the long run thanks to the energy savings that new models offer.
This is another scenario where one of the Fred F. Collis experts can help you determine whether a repair or replacement is the better option. We even offer emergency service!
