Two-thirds of all homes in the United States have air conditioners, and when it comes to the warm summer months, or areas of the U.S. where it tends to stay warm (like Florida!), a working AC is one of the most crucial things to have installed in your home.
About 1/5 of the homes built during the 1980s have air conditioning equipment that is over 20 years old. With time, AC units become less effective and can end up costing you more money in electricity, but is not efficiently cooling your home down. There are several signs you can look for in order to know you need an AC repair service.
1. Your home is not staying cool
The most obvious sign you need an AC repair service is that your home is not cooling down. If your AC is simply not coming on or is not blowing cool air into your home, then you should look into calling a local AC repair service.
2. It’s making some weird sounds
If your AC is making strange sounds, it might be on its way out or may not be working. Sounds like rattling or buzzing might signal a serious issue with your air conditioning unit. It might not be more than a loose part (like a screw), but it can also be caused by a bent fan blade, so it’s good to call in an air conditioning service to check everything out.
3. Your utility bill is much higher than normal
If you received your electric bill and it’s much higher than it generally is, that might be because your AC unit needs to be repaired. When an AC unit is on its way out, it becomes much less efficient (they generally the older they get). Replacing central AC equipment that is over 15 years old can result in energy savings.
4. Your AC unit is leaking
Normally when an AC unit is working properly, water will drip onto a pan and flows into a floor drain or condensate sump basin. When there is water leaking, that means there is a blockage or the tube is disconnected. An AC repair service can come in and look for crimps and disconnections.
If you think your air conditioning unit might need to be replaced, you should have someone come out and check in ASAP. Aside from leaking, causing damage, and making your home uncomfortably warm, having an AC unit that doesn’t work can also make you spend much more money than necessary.
What was the biggest signal to you that your AC unit needed to be replaced? Share your advice in the comment below!
