We may be edging closer to winter, but around our area that doesn’t mean much when it comes to the use of our air conditioners. Still though, as the weather does cool off, you’ve likely begun to use your AC system less and less, and probably aren’t thinking about it much, either. But your Houston, TX air conditioning system shouldn’t be neglected—especially not after a long, hard season of use.
We understand how tempting it is to wait. After all, you’re going to need your air conditioner a lot less in the coming months, right? But if you want to ensure that your AC system lasts through any heat waves that we experience and won’t break down on you when you need it the most, then it’s time to take care of any problems that do currently exist. But what problems should you look out for?
Ice on the System
There are a number of homeowners who believe that seeing ice somewhere on their air conditioner is a normal part of the cooling process. After all, AC systems produce cold air, right? Maybe your air conditioner is just working too effectively?
Unfortunately, this is wrong—ice on your air conditioner indicates that your evaporator coil is getting too cold, and causing condensation to freeze. This might be resolved by simply changing out your air filter if it’s dirty or clogged, or even by having the coil professionally cleaned, once the source of the problem is located. That source might be a refrigerant leak, which is a much more urgent problem than many people realize and should be addressed right away.
Short Cycling
When you listen to your central air conditioner operating, you should hear a fairly regular and gradual cycle. What you should not hear is your system starting up, running briefly, and then cycling back down once more. If this is happening, then your air conditioner is going through a process called short cycling.
This is a pretty serious problem and could be the result of a couple different issues. Again, a refrigerant leak could be the cause, or a dirty coil. Other potential issues that may be plaguing the system include malfunctioning capacitors, thermostats, or any other components that are integral to the operation of your air conditioner.
Odd Noises
If your air conditioner is pumping out hot air, then of course you’re going to know something is wrong! But what if your cooling system seems to be functioning perfectly fine, but you’re hearing strange noises coming from it? Can you just ignore them or write them off as a minor nuisance?
We hope not—when your cooling system is making loud and unfamiliar noises, it’s warning you that something is wrong. From grinding noises to screeching from metal against metal, or even the thumping of a loose component, strange noises are often the first sign that something is amiss with your cooling system.
For quality AC services no matter what time of the year it is, contact Fresh Air, L.P.
