How Do I Know if My Air Conditioner Needs Servicing?

When everything is going smoothly, it’s easy to stay out of sight and mind. You don’t often think about the state of your furnace or air conditioner unless something has gone wrong. But what are the red flags to call in an AC repair? Read on to learn the signs that you need a local air conditioner service call.

Signs You Need an Air Conditioner Service Call

If you want to avoid an emergency AC repair, it’s recommended to get your unit inspected and serviced annually. That way, you can stay ahead of bigger problems before you’re suffering in Calgary’s midsummer heat.

Many homeowners will have the common mentality – “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” While this principle can apply to a sticky kitchen cupboard, it can be a detrimental approach to your air conditioning unit. Like a car, the more you maintain it and address problems early on, the longer you’ll have it.

It won’t get cool enough.

Have you walked into your home on a hot day, expecting a refreshing change of atmosphere, only to find the AC has barely done its job? You hear it running and feel the air blowing, but it isn’t as cool as you’d like it to be. There are a few things that could be wrong:

1. Your thermostat was accidentally set to heat instead of cool.
2. The air filter needs to be changed for better airflow.
3. The circuit breaker for your condenser has tripped and just needs to be reset.

Those are easy fixes you can take care of yourself. However, if that doesn’t work, it’s a sign you need an air conditioner service call. There could be refrigerant leaking, or you may just simply require a system upgrade. If the temperature rises over 37.7° consistently, it’s possible it can’t keep up.

Water is leaking.

Usually, a leak may cause panic, but it’s completely normal if it’s under your AC’s outdoor condenser unit. This is especially common on hot, muggy days. However, if you notice an ongoing leak or excessive water, there could be a problem with your coils. If that’s the case, it’s best to call an AC repair expert.

Your AC turns on and off abruptly without doing its job.

Calgarians saw temperatures as high as 36° in 2021. When your AC operates in this extreme summer heat, it has to work harder and can be more prone to malfunction. An integral part, the capacitor, may be damaged from overheating.

If you notice that your AC unit is turning on and off quickly, with a clicking sound, it may be the source of the problem. This indicates it cannot give the motor the initial push it needs to let the AC run. This isn’t a DIY solution, and any attempts could result in an electric shock. It’s recommended to call your local air conditioner service team to repair or replace it for you.

Your AC smells bad.

Does there seem to be a foul odour in the home every time you turn on your air conditioner? There could be a few reasons for this. The first thing you’ll want to consider is your environment and what’s in the air. If there’s a smoker in the house, you’re likely going to smell it being circulated through the ducts if they light up inside. If you have a rotten egg smell, this could be a red flag that there’s a natural gas leak that needs to be addressed.

If you smell any burning, exhaust, or coolant, you should immediately turn off your air conditioning unit and call for an emergency AC repair.

Your breaker keeps tripping.

AC units consume a lot of energy, and your electrical system has to bear its brunt. If your air conditioner continues tripping the circuit breaker, it’s using too many amps for the breaker to handle. As a result, the breaker is tripping to protect your property from an electrical fire.

This isn’t a problem that should be ignored by constantly resetting the breaker. While you can try this solution the first time, clean the air filter and the unit, if the problem persists, it’s time to call in an expert.

You haven’t had your yearly air conditioner service call.

Do you remember the last time you had your friendly technician come by to clean your unit, inspect it for problems, and ensure it’s working in tip-top shape? The best time to do this is before you use the unit for the season. If you have any kind of warranty on your unit, you are likely required to maintain its yearly service appointments to keep it valid.

Your best summer yet begins with better air quality at home with the assistance of your air conditioner. At Plumbing and Heating Paramedics, we rescue you from malfunctioning AC messes that turn your home from your safe haven to a sweltering sauna. Contact us to book your repair or yearly maintenance call.