Temperatures are slowly rising in Long Island and the hot, humid summer you know well is just around the corner. After you’ve run your AC all winter long for heating, it’s now time to switch it back to cool again. At this stage, many homeowners start thinking about AC repair Long Island services.
In winter though, if your AC breaks down, there’s an easy fix. You just put on more layers and deal with it until it’s fixed. But in summer, there isn’t such a simple backup plan. And imagine if your AC breaks down during a heat wave that lasts several days. What a way to pick timing.
The good news is that right now, while the weather is still around 65F, you can check whether your AC is working properly before the temperatures rise even more. Be on the lookout for these 5 signs AC is breaking down and read till the end to see how you can prevent that from happening with proper air conditioning maintenance.
5 Signs Your AC Is About to Break Down
ACs seem like complicated systems, but they’re simple machines, and you can easily notice any of these signs that will tell you whether your AC will break down soon.
Weak airflow
If you use your AC often, the first thing you’d notice is weakened airflow. That usually happens because of a dirty air filter when dust gets built up, making it that much harder for air to move around and cool your room.
The more dust builds up on the filter, the fan inside will also start to wear out because now it’s working much harder than it should be. Ultimately, your AC will crank up the electricity bill while still not cooling enough.
If you leave your air filter dirty for too long, your entire AC will get overworked and eventually fail completely. You’ll end up needing to get a new AC, which costs a lot more than an air filter change or AC repair Long island service.
Warm air from the vents
Just like your body gets warm when you’re sick, warm air coming out of your vents is your AC telling you it’s not working properly.
This can happen when the cooling gas inside the AC is leaking and it can’t cool the air. You will even find that the thermostat gets confused and what’s it showing and the air you feel in the room won’t match.
But this can also be an electrical fault that is stopping the cooling cycle from working correctly. It’s better to get a professional to assess what the real root of the problem is through a proper HVAC tune up.
If you ignore this for too long, the main compressor will get damaged and that’s usually a very expensive part. You’ll end up wishing you had taken this more seriously a lot earlier.
Unusual noises you haven’t heard before
The only sounds you should hear from your AC is the “bing” sound it makes when you turn it on/off, change any settings and the sound of airflow. Any sound other than these is a sure sign that something within the AC isn’t working as it should be.
Grinding or rattling noises usually indicate that parts on the inside have become loose or are rubbing where they’re not meant to be.
Any screeching sounds may point to worn-out moving parts that aren’t moving smoothly, while banging or clunking are sounds you’d hear when something on the inside has come loose or air is moving through blocked areas.
If you hear any of these sounds, a professional Long Island HVAC service must look at your AC immediately. Or you’ll be waking up in a couple of days with a broken AC.
Leaking water
This one is a given, but water leaking from an AC is never a positive sign, and it’s definitely one that should be taken seriously.
This can happen if the small drain pipe gets blocked with dirt or ice forms inside the system and then melts in the wrong place. In other cases, the tray that collects water can crack or overflow.
If this problem is left ignored long enough, it will lead to much more annoying and expensive fixes, like water damage, mold, or electrical problems.
Short cycling
Short cycling is when your AC keeps switching on and off way too quickly instead of running properly. Most people think this happens when it achieves the temperature it has been set at, but this can also be an indicator that the system is struggling to cool due to low cooling gas or blocked airflow.
A faulty thermostat can also confuse the system into stopping and starting at the wrong times, while the room still feels like you’re outside in the sun.
When this happens, the AC wears itself out much faster, no matter how new or old it is, and that ends up using more energy while cooling less. You’ll end up with a high electricity bill, still sweating in your home.
AC repair Long Island: How to prevent your AC from breaking down
Regularly change your air filters
Check, clean and replace your air filters every 1 to 3 months. If you’re using your AC heavily and daily, try to do it monthly.
A dirty filter is the main reason for weak airflow and short cycling because it blocks airflow and forces the machine to work much harder than it should.
But before you clean your filter, you must know whether it’s reusable. If it is, you can simply wash it or vacuum it. Good quality filters are often reusable, and they help to trap any dust without clogging the AC.
It’s best that you set a monthly reminder until this becomes a habit. Regular air conditioning maintenance will keep the air moving as intended.
Schedule professional check-ups
Make sure to call up a professional to get your AC checked. A technician will be able to clean all the main parts, check the cooling levels, test the most important components like the compressor and electrical parts. They’ll know if anything needs to be oiled or tightened.
A professional can spot problems early on, like low cooling gas or dirty internal parts, before it shows up as warm air through the vents or unexpected leaks.
A professional tune-up will usually cost you far less than any emergency repairs down the line and often extends the life of your AC.
Seal any leaks as soon as you notice them
Regularly check for air leaks around doors, windows and ducts. Make sure to seal any gaps so the cool air doesn’t escape.
If your AC is low on cooling gas, that usually means there is an air leak that requires a professional to have a look. During servicing, professionals will also check wiring and electrical parts that might fail over time.
When dealing with air leaks, you also keep humidity under control, which is very important to To prevent moisture buildup and that the AC drains water properly.
The best time to service your AC
Preventive measures to work, but only before any warning signs of your AC failing show up. Once you notice these signs, routine maintenance wouldn’t be enough.
At that point, it will come down to a proper inspection and servicing before the peak of summer. The safest way to avoid breakdowns when you need a cool room the most is a pre-summer AC check.
A simple standard procedure inspection from All Island HVAC can catch any issues before you find yourself with no working AC in the middle of a Long Island summer heatwave
