Derek Cole of Simmons One Hour Heating and Air identifies five signs your AC is failing: the house stays uncomfortable despite correct thermostat settings, electricity bills spike suddenly, the unit runs nonstop, you hear odd noises or smells, or your breaker trips frequently. Any of these means call a professional.
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Home and Life Comfort with Derek Cole. Hey, what's going on everyone? Derek Cole with Simmons One Hour Heating and Air, and today we're talking about the 5 signs your air conditioner is struggling. And usually heading into a North Carolina summer, we get the phone call, phones are ringing off the hook, it's hot, it's steamy, it's humid, it's nasty. People call and say, Derek, my air conditioner was working fine yesterday and then it's not. Very rarely does the air conditioner just all of a sudden break. It usually wears down slowly over time, and these are the 5 signs that your AC is struggling. Number 1, your house never feels comfortable. Yes, the thermostat says 72, you set it to 72, it says 72, but the home feels clammy, feels— it could feel humid. It's not doing something correct. It's not quite feeling the way it should feel. The airflow doesn't feel as cold as usual. The refrigerant could be a problem. Uh, the dirty coils could be a problem. The ductwork could be a problem. That one room doesn't quite feel good. It's either hot, it's too hot, it's too cold. That one room is a problem. So number 1, your house doesn't feel comfortable. Yes, the thermostat says 72, it's set on 72, but something is off. That is a sign your AC is struggling. Number 2, your power bill shoots up. One of the first indications you're fixing to have a problem or have a breakdown is your power bill, your electric bill. That is an indicator there is a problem. It's having— the system is having to work harder, it's pulling more amps. It's pulling more power, it's pulling more energy to get you to the same temperature you're always at. So the house may not feel off, but it's pulling more power to get you to the same place you're always at. Number 3, the system never shuts off. The system runs all the time. Now don't get me wrong, Runtime is important. Longer runtimes are typically better than shorter runtimes, but if it's running nonstop constantly, that is a problem. It could be dirty filters, it could be airflow, it could be refrigerant issues, it could be filling pores, it could be duct problems. Here's the problem: the longer the system runs nonstop, the more wear and tear it causes if there is a problem. So If your system never stops, that's also a sign your AC is struggling. Number 4, strange noises or smells. This is a problem if your system— you're at home all the time. We spend 90% of our time indoors these days. If something's off, a noise is different, a smell is different, don't ignore it. That is a problem. Your system is having a problem. If things don't sound right, things don't smell right, that is a signal to get things checked by a professional. Yes, I know it seems minor, it seems small, but you want to catch the small things, the minor things, before they become major things. So if it seems small, it doesn't mean ignore it, it means act on it. If things sound strange, things smell weird, get it looked at. And finally, sign number 5: your breaker keeps tripping. This is something a lot of homeowners ignore. Do not ignore it. If your breaker is tripping it is having a problem. Constantly going to the panel to reset the breaker or going outside to reset the breaker is not the answer. That is not a solution. That is masking a problem. If the breaker is tripping, that wire to the unit is pulling more amps than it should. That breaker is in place to protect that wire. The wires in place for the system. So if things are tripping, there is a problem. It's pulling too many amps. Uh, it could be a nick in the wire. It could be a failing compressor. A compressor is pulling more amps than it should. Either way, get it checked out by a professional. That is not a long-term solution. Resetting the breaker is not a solution. Look, at the end of the day, your AC system gives you warning signs. These are the top 5, 5 of them that could indicate you have RUM. Do not ignore any of these, but if any of these are happening, have it checked out by a professional. And if you haven't had a tune-up or a service, this summer, this spring, go ahead and get that done because it is more important to get it taken care of now. Run efficient all summer long. Run efficient. Catch any small problems before they become big problems because big problems are a big problem. Be proactive, not reactive. Handle it right now. Home and Life Comfort with Derek Cole.
