It is relatively common for electronics and appliances to malfunction at times, especially if they have many moving parts. Even with timely maintenance, your AC might not be performing to its peak capacity, simply due to age and natural wear and tear.
How would you know that your AC is struggling though? Air conditioning is a blessing, but when it doesn’t work properly, it can cause great annoyance. Let’s help you figure out whether your AC is underperforming!
High Energy Bills
A sure sign that any electrical appliance is struggling is poor efficiency. There are different reasons why your AC is causing your utility bills to sky-rocket:
- Parts of your AC have worn out.
- You didn’t conduct timely maintenance.
- The living area is too big for your AC to cool efficiently.
- The living area is too small for your AC to cool efficiently (in which case it will go through a damaging process called short-cycling).
If your AC is old, then its components are worn out, causing it to lose efficiency. You may also face issues due to clogged filters or if you installed an underpowered AC in a large room.
Regardless, we encourage you to consult a skilled technician to diagnose your problem.
Poor Cooling
Air conditioners can disappoint you if their thermostat doesn’t work properly. After you set your AC to a certain temperature, monitor your home’s ambient temperature. It might take a while for the AC to cool the area to the set temperature on hot days, but it will get there.
In case your ambient temperature is higher than what you set it to be, or if your AC is blowing hot air, you should call a technician. Thermostat problems can indicate that your compressor is working hard but cannot cool the room down, which can damage it.
Low Airflow
Hold your hand under the vents. If the air blowing from the vents seems to be less forceful than normal, your AC might be suffocating, or the blower’s fans or motors might have worn out.
Be mindful that poor airflow causes your AC to run hotter and can damage the compressor.
Loud Noises
Your AC is supposed to be a pleasant experience, relatively free from noise and the heat of the outdoors. However, you should be concerned if your AC seems to be louder than usual. Noises such as screeching, clanging, banging, or hissing may be caused by components coming loose, refrigerant leaks, or breaking—so delaying repairs can lead to more damage.
Your AC is Old
The average lifespan for a well-maintained air conditioner is about 10-15 years. While we usually recommend replacement by this time, repairs may help you get a little more service life out of your air conditioner. If you’re frequently calling for repairs, and your next repair will cost over half of what the system is worth, an upgrade may be your best option. Otherwise, speak to our team to see what repairs may help!
Design Comfort is the contractor to turn to when you need expert Salt Lake City air conditioning services! See what keeps our customers saying, “I Love My Design Comfort!”. Contact us today.
