6 Signs of an Impending AC Breakdown in Collegedale, GA

The weather in Collegedale, GA, will be quite hot over the next few months, giving your air conditioner plenty to do. This also means that AC system failures will have especially unpleasant consequences. To help you avoid such discomfort, read on learn six signs that indicate your AC system is on the verge of a breakdown:

Difficulty Starting the AC System

It’s difficult to imagine a clearer sign that something is seriously wrong with your AC system. If your air conditioner only seems to turn on with difficulty, making raucous noises as it does, don’t hesitate to take immediate remedial action.

The possible reasons for this difficulty are various. Perhaps your AC system’s parts are in terrible shape and may fail at any moment, or debris is inside the system and significantly inhibits its ability to function. Our service technicians can quickly diagnose the problem and offer an AC repair estimate.

Skyrocketing Electricity Bills

If you keep your thermostat at the same temperature, you should see a relationship between your electricity bills and the outside temperature. As your AC system ages, it gradually loses efficiency, which leads to higher coolin bills. Any sudden explosion in the amount of your cooling bills without a significant increase in outside temperatures is a clear sign that something has gone wrong.

This could indicate that your AC system is on its last legs. Maintenance or repairs may be able to reverse the problem, but it could simply be time to buy a new air conditioner.

Strange Air Conditioner Noises

We’ve already mentioned that, if your system makes loud noises when it starts, it’s time for AC repairs. However, this isn’t merely true when starting the system. The truth is that a fundamentally sound air conditioner shouldn’t produce anything more than some slight and unobtrusive humming.

Banging, rattling, squealing, buzzing, hissing and gurgling noises all mean bad news. For example, hissing and gurgling reliably indicate the presence of a refrigerant leak. Rattling might suggest either that some debris is in your system or that a few of its smaller parts have come loose.

Buzzing noises might point to electrical problems, while squeals and screeches imply something has gone amiss with either your system’s fan or its compressor. Any strange and persistent noise from your AC system is a legitimate cause for concern.

If you aren’t sure what a particular sound means, let our service technicians share their insight. Perhaps some maintenance might be enough to quiet things down, or maybe the situation calls for significant repairs.

Odd Smells Coming From Your AC System

Like your ears, your nose can also be an invaluable tool for spotting trouble with your AC system. Well-functioning air conditioners shouldn’t emit odors of any kind.

As with the strange sounds we considered above, various things may cause one odor or another to emerge from your AC system. Our team can help you bring things back to normal.

Age of the Air Conditioner

The older your AC system gets, the more fragile it will be to a breakdown. Since the risk of catastrophic malfunctions rises with age, you would be wise to replace your AC system after it has been in service for over 15 years. This is the average length of the service life of a traditional air conditioner.

Annual maintenance, regularly changing the air filter and prompt repairs can do quite a bit to prolong that service life. Nevertheless, age is an accurate indicator of an AC system’s overall condition.

Unusual Cooling Cycles

Most air conditioners will cycle two or three times an hour, for about 10 to 15 minutes each time. If yours turns on, quickly turns off again or never turns off, it’s best to call for AC repairs.

If you notice one or more of the foregoing signs, the time left to act may be short. Call Dalton Heating & Air today to take advantage of our excellent AC repair services around Collegedale, GA.

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