Austinites need just three things to make the long summers here bearable: access to a swimming hole, a nice patio serving up cool drinks, and a functioning AC. Unfortunately, when the AC goes out, all bets are off. Being uncomfortable inside can quickly turn summer joy into summer purgatory, where the days drag on and the nights are even longer.
Keeping your AC maintained is the best way to extend the life of your equipment to survive the long Texas summer. Here are 5 of the most common signs you need AC maintenance.
1. Poor Cooling
If your AC isn’t keeping up with the Texas heat, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common complaints we receive from Austinites as summer ramps up.
Causes
- Dirty coils
- Insufficient coolant
- Faulty thermostat
- Dirty filters
- Defective parts
How Regular Maintenance Can Help
During a professional tune-up, we’ll inspect your AC coils, check all refrigerant components for possible leaks, inspect and adjust the refrigerant profile, ensure thermostat operation, level and calibrate the thermostat, check your air filters, and inspect parts and connections.
2. Unexpectedly High Energy Bills
If your AC is struggling to keep your home cool, the first sign of trouble might be a high energy bill.
Causes
- Failing parts
- Refrigerant leaks
- Dirty coils
- Dirty air filters
How Regular Maintenance Can Help
During preventative maintenance, we thoroughly inspect parts and connections, check coolant components and adjust the refrigerant profile, inspect the coils, and check your air filters.
3. It’s Humid Inside
Your AC uses coils to cool the air and get rid of moisture. If you’re experiencing indoor humidity even when your AC is running, it’s because your unit isn’t functioning as it should.
Causes
- Frozen evaporator coils
- Dirty condenser coils
How Regular Maintenance Can Help
During each maintenance visit, we check airflow, inspect your filters, check refrigerant components for possible leaks, and inspect your coils to determine if they need cleaning.
4. Water is Leaking Into the House
Water leaks are a major indicator that your AC needs maintenance.
Causes
- Issues with the drain pan
- Broken HVAC float switch
- Clogs in the drain or condensate line
- Low refrigerant.
How Regular Maintenance Can Help
During maintenance, an HVAC expert inspects the float safety switch, the drain and condensate lines, and checks all refrigerant components for possible leaks.
5. The AC Is Making Strange Noises
Strange noises are more than a nuisance. Whether your AC is rattling, hissing, clanging, or buzzing, it’s time for a professional assessment.
Causes
- Issues with the compressor
- Malfunctioning motor
- Defective relay switch
- Unbalanced fan
- Faulty thermostat
- Clogged drains
How Regular Maintenance Can Help
During a seasonal tune-up, we’ll monitor your compressor’s starting amps and operating temperatures, ensure your motor’s running amps are correct, and test all relays, controls, and transformers. We’ll also inspect the fan and fan motor, check the thermostat, inspect your drain lines, inspect all wiring and connections, and check all circuit boards for burn marks or corrosion.
Learn More About Maintenance & Schedule An Appointment Today!