Seemingly endless heat is not anything we’re strangers to, and with temperatures already approaching their peak for the summer, it’s imperative to have a fully functional and efficiently operating air conditioning system on your side.

If you’ve had the system maintained within the last year—or the last 6 months, if you have a heat pump, then your cooling system has a good chance of working through the season without encountering many issues or any drop in efficiency. However, even professional maintenance can’t help you avoid all air conditioning repairs in San Antonio, TX. Therefore, you must know the signs of an air conditioning system that’s in trouble. We’ve shared 4, below!

1. 1. Odd Noises

      Chances are, you have a pretty good idea of what your air conditioner sounds like daily when it’s operating. There’s a regular cycle of the compressor coming on and shutting down, and then of course the hum of the fans. Pay close attention though, to any unusual noise that interrupts this.

      A strange or unfamiliar sound is often an indicator that something is wrong with your cooling system. Clattering and clanging, for instance, could mean that mechanical components have become loose. Hissing might mean that refrigerant is leaking/escaping from your system. Grinding and/or screeching warns of motors that are wearing down and could burn out, rendering your cooling system useless.

   2. Short-Cycling

      Short cycling is the process in which your compressor shuts off and turns back on in rapid succession. Be sure you listen to your compressor and if it’s going on and off every 15 minutes or so, call for repairs, because something is very likely wrong.

There are a few different potential causes of a short-cycling air conditioner. You may have a clogged air filter (make sure you change yours every 1-3 months as needed), a miscalibrated thermostat, loss of refrigerant, or even an air conditioner that wasn’t properly sized upon installation (although you’d notice short-cycling from the start if this is the case).

• Uneven Cooling

  This is one of the less noticeable signs of air conditioning trouble and often gets ignored. However, when one or more rooms in a home aren’t receiving the same level of cooling as the others, it’s a sign that something is wrong. The problem might be with the rooms—inadequate insulation, or windows in need of caulking/weatherstripping, for example.

  Uneven cooling could also be due to breaches in your ductwork—cooled, conditioned air might be leaking into unoccupied spaces rather than reaching the rooms that need it. One more cause of this might be that your AC system is losing cooling power overall due to the loss of refrigerant. Our technicians are happy to take a look and determine what the source of the problem is.

• Foul Smells from the Vents

  Dusty smells will come from your vents when the air conditioner turns on for the first time in summer—you probably noticed that earlier this year. This is normal, as it’s just the dust that collects in the ducts during the slower time at the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

This type of odor should go away within an hour or so—if you’re smelling it beyond that, then it’s likely the sign of a motor overheating and burning out. It could even indicate an electrical issue, so it’s imperative that you shut your AC off and contact the professionals for inspection and repair right away.

For quality air conditioning services, contact [company_name] today!