Summer in Sacramento and the East Bay is hot. There’s no way around it, it feels like the temperature climbs every year. At Bell Brothers, we recommend a tune-up before you even turn on your AC, but we know some people like to live dangerously. Here are five signs it’s time for an AC tune-up.
Strange Sounds are Coming from Your Vents
A majority of newer condensers are engineered to not make a sound. This makes it even more jarring to hear a rattling or screeching coming from your system. A small thud here and there is nothing to be worried about. But if you’re hearing a constant noise, it could be cause for concern.
Clicking noises could be indicators of something loose in your HVAC system. A squealing noise is oftentimes a loose belt and screaming can be from too much built up pressure. Either way, calling a professional whenever you hear these noises is the best thing to do.
Your Home is Suddenly Too Humid
Most homeowners don’t realize this, but your AC plays an important role in the humidity levels of your home. Modern systems regulate the amount of moisture is in the air and will automatically change their settings to keep everything at an optimal level.
Refrigerant leaks can leave your home feeling a bit more humid than usual. Refrigerant is responsible for removing heat from ambient air. When the refrigerant line leaks, your air is only partially cooled, leaving it much more humid than usual. A quick visual inspection of your condenser can help identity the problem. If you see a large pool of water around the appliance, chances are you’re dealing with a leaky refrigerant line.
Utility Bills are Going Up
If you’ve lived in your home for more than a year, you know what the summer billing cycle should look like. Most homeowners see a slight increase in their utility bills during the warm summer months. However, if you see a large, unexpected spike, it could be cause for concern.
This can be easily avoided with yearly HVAC maintenance. One of the biggest reasons for a spike in your utility bill is a dirty air filter. When air filters are too full, they force your HVAC system to work twice as hard to produce the same amount of treated air. This puts a huge strain on your system and pushes your utility bills higher.
There’s Warm Air Instead of Cold
Your air conditioner has essentially one job. To convert warm air to cool air. The biggest warning that something is wrong with your system is if it can’t preform this one task. When your system is set to cool and sending warm air instead, it puts unnecessary wear and tear on your HVAC system, contributes to a higher utility bill, and after all this, your home is still warm.
Unfortunately, there are a huge number of reasons your AC might be blowing warm air. It’s not something we can diagnose from a blog post; you’ll need to call in an HVAC professional to preform a tune-up and see what the problem is. It could be something small like the aforementioned dirty HVAC filter or a thermostat setting. Or it could be something bigger like a damaged compressor or frozen evaporator coils. Either way, it’s time to call a professional.
You’re Feeling Weak Airflow
There’s something specific that all homes need for general comfort, strong airflow. Without strong air flow, you’re left with some cool air coming from your vents, but not making it much further. Generally, there are 2 reasons why you’re experiencing weak airflow. It could be problems with your ductwork or problems with your air filter.
Airflow gets weak when there’s buildup in your ductwork. Buildup can come from debris in your attic, or any particles not caught by the air filter. Another reason for weak airflow is a dirty air filter. We mentioned earlier that the air filter has a big impact on how hard your system has to work. So, if it’s full of debris, it’s working harder to force out less air. Our techs address all these issues during a standard AC tune-up.
Get Prepared for Summer with an AC Tune-Up Bell Brothers
When you schedule an AC tune-up, you expect nothing but the best. At Bell Brothers, we deliver the best service and even more. Our technicians are expertly trained, kind, and do Good Deeds For Free. For unmatched service, call the number at the top of the screen or click here to request an appointment online. We proudly serve our Sacramento, Stockton, Vacaville, and East Bay communities.