5 Issues That Require A Call To An AC Repair Company | Fort Worth, TX
Summers in Fort Worth, TX, are really hot, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees and higher on most days. When it gets this hot outside, most people spend more time indoors where there’s air conditioning. If your air conditioner isn’t working correctly, your home can get dangerously hot. When it reaches 90 degrees outside, the temperature in your home can reach 120 degrees without air conditioning. Spending time in your house at this temperature can easily cause your body temperature to increase to 104 degrees and can result in heatstroke, so it’s essential to call an AC repair company as soon as possible.
If your air conditioner isn’t working correctly and isn’t keeping your home cool, it’s best to call an AC repair company right away.
DIY air conditioner repairs aren’t recommended because you need professional HVAC training to repair an air conditioner. Attempting the repair yourself can cause further damage and result in a complete breakdown. A licensed HVAC tech can correctly diagnose problems with your air conditioner and make the necessary repair to get the system up and running again.
If the air conditioner in your Fort Worth, TX home experiences any of the following issues, you should call an AC repair company as soon as possible.
#1 Restricted Airflow
If there isn’t adequate airflow coming from the vents in your Fort Worth, TX home, it won’t get as cool as you want it to be. You should feel a powerful rush of cold air when you stand in front of the vents, and if you don’t, you should schedule an appointment with an AC repair company.
Restricted airflow will cause the unit to work harder to keep your home cool and will cause your energy bills to increase. In addition, the extra work will put added strain on the unit, reducing its maximum lifespan, and you’ll need to replace it before reaching its maximum lifespan.
A few issues can cause restricted airflow, including:
- Clogged air ducts: The air ducts are hidden behind the walls, under the floor, or over the ceiling and deliver the cold air to the vents throughout your home. In one year, up to five pounds of dirt, dust, and other debris can clog the air ducts, preventing the air from flowing freely. Clogged air ducts can also affect your home’s air quality. When the heat or AC runs, the debris will circulate in the air and cause allergy symptoms and exasperate chronic lung and respiratory conditions.
Fortunately, this is a simple repair. An AC repair company can send a tech to your home to clean the debris from the ducts, restoring the airflow while improving your home’s air quality. - Damaged air ducts: The air ducts in your home are hidden; therefore, you won’t see damaged areas if there are any. A crack or break in the air ducts will allow the cold air to escape before reaching the vents, reducing the airflow.
An HVAC tech can inspect the ducts, and if they find any damage, the necessary repair can be made. - Faulty blower: Your air conditioner has a blower that’s designed to force the air from the unit, through the ducts to the vents throughout your home. If the blower fails or has shut down completely, the air won’t reach the vents, resulting in poor airflow.
An AC repair company can send a tech to inspect the blower to determine whether it can be fixed or if a replacement is the best option.
Restricted airflow can affect the cost of your energy bills and the unit’s lifespan; therefore, you shouldn’t ignore the problem. It[‘s best to call a professional as soon as the problem starts.
#2 The Unit Produces Warm Air
If you feel warm air coming from the vents when the AC runs, it’s the most obvious sign that you need help from an AC repair company. This is a serious issue because your home won’t cool down when it’s very hot outside, and a few issues can prevent the unit from producing cold air.
Before making the call, check the thermostat. Thermostat errors are a common cause of this problem, and you should check a few things to ensure the thermostat is set correctly.
- The thermostat has to be set to the cooling mode.
- The fan has to be set to “auto.” If you leave the fan on, it will continue running between cycles, and you’ll feel warm air.
- It has to be warmer in the house than the setting on the thermostat for the unit to produce cold air.
Next, check the filter. You should be replacing the filter every three to six months, and if it’s clogged with dirt and debris, the air won’t circulate through the unit, causing it to overheat. It will be impossible for the unit to produce cold air when this happens.
If everything checks out on your end, it’s time to call an AC repair company. They will send an HVAC tech to inspect the unit to determine why it isn’t producing cold air. A few problems could be to blame, including:
- Frozen evaporator coils: The evaporator coils extract the warm air from the house to start the cooling process. If the evaporator coils have frozen, the cooling process cannot begin, and you’ll feel warm air coming from the vents in your Fort Worth, TX home.
A few issues can cause the evaporator coils to freeze, such as dirty coils, refrigerant problems, clogged drain pipes, or the outdoor temperature was too low to run the unit.
An AC repair company can send a tech to your home to thaw the coils and correct the issue that caused them to freeze to prevent this from happening again. - Refrigerant leak: Your air conditioner cannot produce cold air if there isn’t enough refrigerant in the unit. Low refrigerant is often due to a refrigerant leak. If your AC was installed after 2010, an AC repair company can send a tech to fix the leak and refill the refrigerant. If your unit was installed before 2010, you’d need to replace the unit. Older units use R-22 refrigerant, which was banned in the United States on January 1, 2020, because it’s toxic and depletes the ozone layer. The tech can fix the leak, but they won’t have refrigerant to refill the unit, so your only option is to replace the unit.
- Broken condenser: The indoor unit and outdoor condenser work together to produce cold air. If the condenser isn’t working correctly, the indoor unit can’t either. An AC repair company can send an HVAC tech to inspect the condenser to find the problem so it can be repaired. If the condenser has failed, you’ll need to replace it.
If the AC in your Fort Worth, TX home isn’t producing cold air, your family’s comfort and safety are at risk, and it’s best to call an AC repair company to schedule an appointment for emergency service.
#3 Strange Smells
When you turn on the AC in your Fort Worth, TX home for the first time during the cooling season, it’s not uncommon to smell dust. When dust gets into the system when it’s not in use, it will burn off when the unit runs, creating a dusty smell that will go away after a few minutes. If you smell any other strange odors when the unit runs, call an AC repair company. Foul smells indicate problems with the unit that could put your home and your family’s health at risk.
- Burning; Any burning smell in your house is a cause for concern, and if you smell something burning when the air conditioner runs, you’ll need help from an AC repair company.
The burning smell indicates an electrical issue and you’re smelling the rubber on the wire burning. Electrical problems can spark an electrical fire, so it’s best to turn off the air conditioner immediately and call an air conditioning repair company. - Mold: A moldy smell when the unit runs indicates mold growth within the system. The most common place HVAC techs find mold is the air ducts. The air ducts are hidden, so they’re dark, and when it gets humid in your house, moisture will form in the ducts, creating the perfect environment for mold growth. This is a serious problem because mold spores will circulate in the air when the unit runs, and mold exposure is a significant health hazard. According to the CDC, mold exposure causes the following health problems:
- Allergy symptoms (sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, etc.)
- Respiratory issues
- Chronic headaches
- Skin rashes
- Burning eyes
If a family member has a chronic respiratory or lung problem, breathing in mold will worsen their condition and symptoms.
An AC repair company can send a tech to your home to check the ducts looking for the presence of mold. If there is mold in the ducts, the tech can eliminate it with an antimicrobial fogger. If there’s no mold in the ducts, it could be in the air conditioner. Mold in the unit is more challenging to eliminate, and if the tech cannot eradicate the mold, you’ll need to replace the air conditioner.
#4 Strange Sounds
It’s normal to hear a low-level clicking sound when the air conditioner in your Fort Worth, TX, home runs. If the system makes any other strange sounds, it’s best to call an AC repair company.
Banging, rattling, hissing, and screeching all indicate a problem with the unit, and the longer you wait to have the problem resolved, the more damage can occur, and it will cost more to repair.
A high-pitched squealing sound indicates high pressure in the system, which is very dangerous. If you hear this sound, turn off the unit right away and call an AC repair company.
#5 Moisture or Fluid Around the Unit
If you see moisture on the wall, floor, or unit, there could be a clog in the condensate drain or a crack in the drain pan. These issues are relatively simple to repair but should not be ignored. The moisture can cause water damage and mold growth in the area, increasing the cost of the repair. There’s likely a refrigerant leak if there’s fluid pooling around the unit. Your air conditioner cannot produce cold air without an adequate amount of refrigerant, so it’s best to call an AC repair company right away. Refrigerant leaks occur when acid decays the metal, and tiny holes will form, causing the refrigerant to leak.
Why Choose One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating Of Fort Worth?
If there’s a problem with your air conditioner and you want to hire the best AC repair company in the area, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth.
We are a full-service HVAC company, serving customers in the area since 1988, and many of our customers have been loyal customers for decades.
Our techs have undergone thousands of hours of professional training, and have the knowledge and experience to diagnose and repair issues with your air conditioner. They also have the skill to install and maintain heating and cooling equipment.
HVAC technology is constantly evolving, and our techs are required to receive ongoing training. We want to be sure they can install, maintain and repair the latest HVAC models.
We want our customers to feel safe when they let our techs into their homes, so we require our techs to pass a drug test, background check, and register with the state of Texas before they are hired.
Your comfort is our top priority. If there’s an issue with your heating and cooling system, we provide emergency service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you have an HVAC issue that can’t wait, we’ll get a tech to your home as quickly as possible to resolve the problem.
We have an excellent reputation in the community thanks to the excellent service we provide and have a 5-star rating on Google. In addition, we have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
If it’s time to replace your heating or cooling equipment, our staff can give you information on the latest rebates and tax credits to help reduce the cost of the equipment.
If you need to schedule an appointment for heating or AC service, give One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth a call today.
