Of all the features that add comfort, convenience, and health benefits to your home, air conditioning is one of the most essential. An air conditioning unit regulates indoor temperature and humidity, improves air quality, and keeps your living space cool. Anything could go wrong when your AC isn’t operating at optimal capacity, such as the apparent discomfort of hot, stuffy, and humid air. A minor repair issue in your AC unit could also cause more significant problems for your entire heating and cooling system if it’s not looked into. Hot and humid air attracts bugs to your home and leads to mold growth, which isn’t good for your health. It’s, thus, essential to know when your AC unit’s repair and maintenance is due, and below are ten clear signs you need handyman AC repair services:

1. Loud Noises

Your AC’s indoor and outdoor unit usually hums when switched on. However, any loud, unusual noises mean there’s something wrong with your AC. While your local handyman AC repair service is viable, it’s first good to know how to identify different system sounds and trace the problem.

Do you hear banging noises when you turn on your AC? Banging or rattling noises often point to loosened parts in your indoor or outdoor unit. The fan blades for your AC’s blower fan may loosen and make a rattling sound. Your AC’s compressor may also have loose parts that could explain the banging noise.

There’s usually a clicking noise from your thermostat control when your AC powers up and shuts down. It’s perfectly normal. However, a repetitive clicking sound is a warning sign. It could point to an electrical flaw in your AC compressor or a faulty thermostat that needs replacing.

Buzzing noises are often caused by problems with your AC’s condenser fan, compressor, and rubber isolation feet. Be wary of high-pitched squealing noises and hissing sounds. They indicate parts not lubricated, refrigerant leaks, or high internal pressure in your AC’s compressor. Hiring a local AC contractor to frequently check your AC for electrical and mechanical issues is highly recommended.

2. High Energy Bills

Your AC consumes considerable electricity throughout the year. But an AC system in proper condition ensures energy efficiency. So, when you notice a spike in your energy bills, it’s a clear indication of a compromised AC’s efficiency.

A quick call to your local handyman AC repair service solves your AC concerns. Still, it’s important to understand why your energy bills are going up in the first place. It all starts with you paying attention to your AC. First, check your air filters.

Dirty air filters prevent smooth airflow through your AC’s ductwork. Poor airflow results in your AC taking longer than it needs to cool your home. As your cooling systems’ cycles increase to compensate for the shortfall, they overwork your AC’s motors and compressor, thus gobbling up more electricity.

Poor AC maintenance is also to blame for high energy bills. A poorly maintained AC could cause critical AC components to fail and lead to a drop in efficiency, such as capacitors, motors, and your AC’s compressor. Low refrigerant levels also affect the rate of heat transfer. If you’re using an old AC model, it’s likely not as energy efficient. It’s about time you upgraded.

3. Hot Home

It’s frustrating and annoying to expect a blast of cold, fresh air from your AC’s indoor fan only to get the opposite! Is your AC blowing hot air on a hot summer’s day? There are several reasons for this.

Check your thermostat control’s settings. Sometimes, you may set your thermostat control to ‘Fan’ mode instead of ‘Auto’ mode. In Fan mode, your AC’s indoor fan will continue blowing air to your home’s living areas despite your AC’s cooling system not running. Hence, the air will feel warm.

A clogged condensate drain could make your AC’s cooling components ineffective. When your AC’s condensate line can’t drain the water collected during the cooling process, the moisture freezes around the evaporator coil. There’s, therefore, no way for your evaporator coil to extract heat as warm air is blown over it.

Aside from these components, dirt, and debris can also build up in your AC’s outdoor unit and prevent effective air cooling. Contact your handyman AC repair service for a thorough inspection of your AC. A qualified AC technician can spot other issues that could heat the air, hence the need for air conditioning repair. Potential issues could include a damaged motor for your condenser fan or an old compressor.

4. Old Age

Using an older AC model puts you at a great disadvantage. You’ll possibly need handyman AC repair services more often than usual. You’ll certainly spend more when paying for AC repairs and energy bills. Because your AC isn’t operating at maximum efficiency, it won’t be as effective in cooling your home.

Newer AC models are designed to endure the harshest weather conditions. From extreme heat and cold and heavy storms to natural chemicals in the air like salt and sulfur, your AC’s outdoor unit is at the mercy of the elements. So, it means that an older AC model’s electrical and mechanical parts wear out quickly.

Worn-out parts lead to problems with your AC’s components. A frozen evaporator coil or ice buildup around the coils is never a good sign. It’s usually part of a bigger problem, like failing motors for your AC fans, a clogged condensate line, or refrigerant leaks.

As your AC ages, it has a higher chance of experiencing electrical issues and, in the worst-case scenario, catching fire due to overheating. You don’t have to wait it out before installing a new AC. Seek professional help from a local commercial HVAC repair company on suitable AC models and prices.

5. Weird Smells

It’s already bad when you turn on your AC and get warm air instead of cold air. On the other hand, weird smells could have you trying to figure out where they’re coming from and what’s causing them. It’s a good enough cause to call your handyman AC repair service to address your heating and air concerns.

Any appliances in your home that use gas can also cause a gas leak, ending your AC’s air cycle. Often, it’s not so serious. Rodents like to nest in an AC’s ductwork, so a dead rodent can emit the same smell in your home’s living areas.

A burnt-out circuit board or fan motor in your AC may produce a burning smell or one similar to gunpowder. Mildew and dirt buildup are common causes of your home’s weird smells. A moldy smell or one like smelly feet implies poor drainage with your AC’s drain line and mold and fungus growth in and around your AC.

6. Poor Airflow

If you experience poor airflow in your home, this is a strong hint: you need handyman AC repair services to check your AC. When your AC isn’t circulating air properly, it causes irregular temperature control, decreased air quality, and general discomfort.

Blocked vents typically prevent uninterrupted airflow into your home’s living areas. Find out if there’s an object blocking your vents. Check along your baseboards and ceiling. Time and again, it’s furniture or bedding. If you’re still experiencing poor airflow once you’ve checked all your vents, there’s possibly a problem with your blower fan’s motor.

Check your air filters for clogs caused by accumulation of dirt and debris. Air filters clean out dust and allergens and let clean air into your home. So dirty or clogged air filters cause a drastic drop in airflow and quality. Check your AC’s ductwork for air leaks, dirt buildup, and animal nesting places. Air conditioning companies are ideal if you need your AC’s components properly cleaned to restore healthy airflow to your home.

7. It Won’t Turn On

Your home’s indoor conditions can quickly become unbearable when your AC fails to start up. Intuitively, your handyman AC repair service can equip you with self-help tips in case it happens. Before you need an AC repair service, some system knowledge could help you troubleshoot your AC and get it working again.

Begin by checking whether your thermostat is on. The thermostat controls the functioning of your AC turns. It switches it on and off, but this won’t work if the AC is faulty. Adjust the temperature settings to your desired level and see if your AC turns on. If not, check for a faulty sensor and depleted batteries. Reset your AC manually by turning your thermostat off and then on.

Inspect your air filters. On average, you should clean or change your air filters monthly. These trap a lot of dirt, pet fur, and any particles in the air. Accordingly, dirty or clogged air filters affect airflow and disrupt heating and cooling. Poor airflow can cause freezing in your AC’s cooling unit and prevent it from turning on.

Locate the circuit breaker that connects to your AC inside your home’s electrical control panel. If it’s tripped, flip it on. Check your indoor and outdoor shutoff switches, too. If your AC unit has a reset button, push it before turning it on. Also, check your AC’s condensate line for blockages.

8. Freon Leaks

Freon, or refrigerant, absorbs heat as warm air is passed over your AC’s evaporator coil. You’ll need an optimally operating refrigerant for your AC to cool effectively. So, ensure your local handyman AC repair company inspects the freon leaks as well.

Freon leaks are caused when rust and metal erosion occur in the components housing it. Your AC compressor’s rubber seals wear and tear, causing the refrigerant to leak. There’s also the possibility of purchasing and installing a defective AC system susceptible to freon leaks over time. Add poor installation and a clogged condensate drain line to the list, and you’re looking at several unpleasant causes.

AC units are usually paired with heating components like a heat pump. So, when your heat pump isn’t generating warm air, it could have a refrigerant leak, necessitating heating repair. Hissing noises from your AC also indicate freon leaks and must be assessed and attended to by a professional AC technician.

9. It Hasn’t Been Serviced

Servicing your AC has many advantages. You won’t have to call handyman AC repair services whenever a system malfunctions. Your AC operates efficiently, positively affecting your energy bills, temperature and humidity control, air quality, and overall health.

What happens when you fail to service your AC? Poor performance is at the top of your list of problems. When your AC’s components aren’t checked, maintained, or repaired, they fall victim to dirt buildup, rust, metal erosion, and wear and tear.

Consider the high cost of repair expenses you’ll have to deal with if you don’t service your AC. Poor maintenance shortens your AC’s lifespan. You know how expensive AC systems are, so installing a new AC when you don’t have to will cost you dearly. You’ll also have to pay more in energy bills. Take the safer route, hire air conditioning services, and schedule routine servicing for your AC.

10. AC lifespan Has Ended

It’s an entirely different matter when you’ve been diligent and maintained your AC throughout its lifespan. While a standard AC model can run efficiently for about ten years, modern ACs are generally designed to last up to fifteen. Consult your handyman AC repair services on the ideal time to replace your AC.

Repairs won’t do you any long-term favors once your AC is over its lifespan. Your AC has many moving parts, so it’s likely to keep breaking down. Although some parts are easier and cheaper to repair or replace, others aren’t. ACs that use heating oils have recurrent oil furnace issues. An AC past the 10-15 years mark will likely be ineffective when regulating temperature, airflow, and humidity.

Fluctuations in humidity levels, indoor temperature, and air distribution will become more apparent. When your AC is due for a replacement, your energy bills tell it all. Although replacing faulty components and recalibrating your AC’s heating and cooling system works for a while, it’s shorter than a newer AC model with better energy-efficiency capabilities.

When your HVAC system is starting to meet the end of its life, there’s only so much that you can do. You can attempt to hire a technician for HVAC repairs, but they’ll only be able to do so much if your system is really that old. There comes a time when it’s simply better to replace your unit altogether than try to keep repairing it. You may have already sunk hundreds of dollars in repairs, but it may actually be cheaper in the long run to just get your unit replaced. A replacement typically has a bigger asking price, but you’ll ultimately be hiring these kinds of services less for repairs. It’s better to pay a large upfront cost than having to keep sinking money into something over time. If you have any questions about the process, be sure to contact your HVAC service provider. They can assist you and let you know what the best course of action is. Their expertise is unmatched and should help you make a solid choice as to whether repair or replacement is the best option for you and your family.

Consider the money you’ve spent this year on your energy bills, AC repair, and maintenance. You’ll realize it’s cheaper to take proactive measures. Consult your local handyman AC repair service for your AC repair needs and replacement options. When your AC works optimally, it’s operating at maximum efficiency. Consuming less power means your energy bills will go down. Schedule frequent maintenance and servicing for your AC rather than assuming all is well or waiting for a system malfunction before seeking professional help.