Dealing With Broken ACs: 3 Warning Signs To Watch Out For

When temperatures in Austin, Texas rise to dangerously high levels, you wouldn’t want to stay indoors without a working AC unit. Repairing a broken AC doesn’t come cheap, especially during peak seasons. If your home has a broken cooling unit at the worst time possible, you’ll end up suffering more than just a mild case of indoor sweating. 

Looking for the warning signs of a broken AC unit

Preventing your AC from breaking down is the best way to avoid the complicated and expensive process of repairing or replacing your current cooling system. If you want to keep yourself safe from the heat, you should look for the potential signifiers that your unit is no longer in working order.

If you want to prevent paying for expensive AC repair costs, here are three warning signs you should watch out for:

1. Room temperatures take too long to drop

Although it will take a while before your AC cools your room, and even longer if you have a centralized heating system, it shouldn’t take too long. If your rooms’ temperatures are inconsistent with each other, it may be a sign that your vents have limited or blocked airflow. This can happen if there are leaks or blockages in your piping or ductwork. These complications force your AC unit to work harder with higher energy while delivering subpar output.

2. Leaks from your AC unit’s outdoor components

Besides assessing the condition of your AC indoors, you can also look for potential signs of damage from its outdoor components. The dripping pipe of your AC unit is a natural part of redirecting moisture from indoors to outdoors. It’s a natural byproduct of your cooling systems’ processes.

If you see that the dripping is more excessive than before, it could be a sign of a refrigerant leak. These are signs of leaks that come from cracks or holes in your coils that circulate your refrigerant. Leaving your AC unit untreated can cause more than just the build-up of damage, but will also be a health risk to you from exposure to freon. Freon is a toxic gas that can cause headaches, nausea, and vomiting. You should stop using your AC unit immediately if you experience any of these symptoms or notice excess moisture coming from your pipes.

3. Higher energy bills

Understandably, you will keep your AC unit active on hotter seasons. Doing so keeps your home free from hot air and excessive humidity. However, if you continue to do this non-stop, you might see a sudden increase in your electrical bills. Although it’s natural to experience a spike in your energy costs, it may also be a sign that your AC has a more significant issue.

Keeping your AC unit on for long periods can cause different complications, from airflow issues to damaged evaporator coils. These conditions will present themselves with higher energy usage even if it’s delivering the same level of cooling. Instead of diagnosing your AC unit yourself, it’s best to contact an AC repair technician to see the root cause of the problem.

Conclusion

The effects of hot temperature can range from harmlessly affecting your motivation to dangerously putting your life at risk. Heatwaves can be a killer that brings anything from heat cramps, stroke, and even death. This is why you should be wary of the warning signs above so that your AC unit can protect you from these preventable heat-related dangers.

If you need a professional technician for an AC tune-up in Kyle, Texas, our team is happy to help. For any other HVAC issue, contact your friendly professionals at Cool Kings Heating and Air at 512-318-7212!