How Do You Know Your HVAC Unit Is Broken?

When your air conditioning unit simply stops working, everyone knows it’s time to call for repairs. However, there could be just as many times when your AC isn’t working optimally and repairs could help. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, though, you’ll never know if your air conditioner could use the help. So below are some telltale hints.
Unnecessary Noise
Everyone is familiar with the reassuring sound of their AC coming to life. After that, though, the vast majority of modern AC units should run without giving themselves away.
So if you’ve noticed your unit has recently begun making excessive noise, you might want an expert to take a look at it. Often, those sounds are the result of parts that have become loose or disconnected and started banging around when the unit comes on. The motor could also be going bad.
Loss of Airflow
If your HVAC unit stops pumping out cold air in satisfactory amounts, chances are you’ll take notice pretty quickly. Fortunately, this problem doesn’t always necessitate that you call in the professionals. Instead, it might just mean your unit needs a new filter. Regularly changing out your filter is important not just for maintaining solid airflow, but also for ensuring overall air quality.
If you’ve recently changed the filter, though, or you can otherwise tell that’s not the problem, then you probably want to call in an expert to take a look at it.
Warm Air
Another easy indicator to pick up on is if your air conditioner is providing you with anything but cool air. Sometimes the airflow is just fine; it’s the actual temperature of the air that’s the problem.
It might also be that your air conditioner provides cold air, it just takes its time getting around to it. If you set the unit for a certain temperature and it takes longer than you remember to get to it, there’s likely something wrong.
For something like this, your air conditioning unit might just need refrigerant, which is a quick and affordable fix. Other times, however, you might be in for a bigger issue.
It’s Getting Old
Typically, the average air conditioner will last 15 years before it finally breaks down or needs to be replaced. However, even at just 10 years old, your unit could be costing you 20% to 40% more than it should be simply because of the wear and tear of the past decade.
So while age isn’t reason enough to call for repairs, keep an eye on your AC when it starts reaching its golden years.
Different Temperatures Throughout the Home
Unless you programmed yours a certain way, an air conditioner should keep the entire home at the temperature you’ve set it at. Obviously, some fluctuation is to be expected, but you shouldn’t notice huge differences between rooms on the same floor. If this is occurring, your thermostat may be behind the problem.
While no one likes paying for repairs, if you stay aware of the above issues, you’ll at least be sure you’re spending money for the right reasons. They might also help you catch an issue with your air conditioning unit before it becomes something bigger.