5 Signs Your Air Conditioner May Not Make It Through Another Summer in Ann Arbor, MI

When your air conditioning system isn’t working its best during the summertime, it’s natural to wonder if it can make it through the season. It’s normal to hope that you can put off significant repairs or even a replacement. But how can you tell?

First, the best way is to have an HVAC professional look at your specific system. If that’s your route of choice, we’d be happy to inspect your AC system and run diagnostics to get at the root of your issues. You can reach out to our AC experts online or by calling 810-546-3497 today.

If you’d rather get more information on the subject first, here are five signs that your HVAC in Ann Arbor, MI, may not provide you with cool comfort for the rest of the summer.

1. Your AC System Doesn’t Cool Your Home

At the risk of sounding too obvious, sometimes AC units simply aren’t running at all, which serves as a big red flag. More often, though, systems technically work but blow warm air into your Washtenaw County home. When this happens, it’s time to verify that the thermostat is set to cool your home and to the desired temperature.

If the thermostat settings check out, it makes sense to schedule an appointment for AC services from an Ann Arbor expert. Warm air can indicate something as simple as a need for more refrigerant. Or perhaps leaks in pipes in your AC system need to be repaired before we add the proper amount of refrigerant. At this point, air conditioning repair in Ann Arbor, MI (rather than replacement) may be required.

That said, when your system isn’t cooling your home, more serious issues could exist. For example, the compressor could be failing. No matter the specifics of your AC troubles, the sooner your system gets attention, the more likely that more cost-effective repairs can take place.

There’s also a related issue: uneven cooling. This can feel particularly frustrating because you might worry about the warm air blowing in your Ann Arbor home only to feel more comfortable a little while later. You then relax, thinking you’re worrying over nothing, only to have the uneven cooling issue recur.

2. Unusual Sights, Sounds, or Smells Exist

Well-running AC systems are typically pretty quiet, with a gentle hum and no unpleasant odors. When something is out of the ordinary, that can signal a problem with your system. Here are some of the most common examples:

Sights

• You see water leaks around your inside AC components:
  ◦ Although some condensation can exist with AC operations, optimally operating systems push that condensation to the outdoor unit.
  ◦ Indoor water pools can suggest low refrigerant, clogged drain lines, cracked pans, or something similar.
  
• You notice spots of mold.
  ◦ Leaks can damage drywall and other parts of your home, creating conducive conditions for mold growth.
  
• Your indoor or outdoor air conditioning components have frost or ice on them.
  ◦ This can be a major warning sign.
• Your indoor or outdoor air conditioning components have frost or ice on them.
  ◦ This can be a major warning sign.

Sounds

• You might hear alarming sounds, such as:
  ◦ Banging: Broken or loose parts may be clanking against one another, perhaps the motor or blower.
  ◦ Grinding: This noise can arise when metal rubs against metal, such as blades of the AC fan; it may somewhat sound like the scraping noise of fingernails on a chalkboard.
  ◦ Hissing: This snake-like sound typically points to leaking refrigerant, which can ultimately damage the compressor, causing more significant damage to your AC system.
  ◦ Excessive clicking: This noise might indicate failing components or point towards electrical issues.

Smells

• Your nose may detect AC issues, such as these:
  ◦ Burning smells, not surprisingly, can indicate AC components overheating or some sort of electrical issues.
  ◦ Musty smells, as noted in the site examples, can arise when you have leaks that indicate mold growth.
  ◦ Overly sweet smells can suggest leaking refrigerant chemicals.

If you notice any combination of these sights, sounds, and/or smells (or notice anything else out of the ordinary), this can indicate the need for air conditioning repair in Ann Arbor, MI, before it reaches the point where your system fails and requires replacement.

3. Your AC System Short-Cycles

Signs described in number two include clicking sounds. When they’re excessive, this typically indicates frequent on-and-off cycling, also called short cycling. This can be a two-pronged problem.

First, the reasons for the short cycling need investigation. This can include issues ranging from clogged air filters to electrical issues and more. Next, the more your system short-cycles, the harder your system needs to work, which can lead to AC system failure.

4. Your Pocketbook Hurts

The first signs of air conditioning system problems may appear in your energy bills. If you’re not increasing your usage and aren’t experiencing rate upticks, the most likely culprit is a problem with your HVAC system, which requires the most energy in a typical home.

5. Your HVAC in Ann Arbor, MI, is a Decade Old or Even Older

A typical HVAC system lasts ten to fifteen years with appropriate HVAC maintenance. Over time, components wear down, leaks spring, and the system works less efficiently overall. Small problems, over time, can contribute to bigger ones that can signal the end of the system’s lifecycle.

How to Know What to Do

If you know that you want an AC replacement in Ann Arbor, MI, to benefit from its enhanced energy efficiency and ability to provide long-term cool comfort, the answer is easy: replace your air conditioning system. If you’d rather put off the expense associated with a new unit for a while, then here are steps to take:

• Reach out to HVAC experts for a thorough system inspection.
  
• Listen to their recommendations for your home and ask whatever questions you may have.
  
• Consider the options. Are there reasonably priced repairs that could extend the life of your system? Many people consider repairs that approach 50% of the cost of a replacement too costly.
  
• Also calculate how much you’ve spent on repairing your system so far.
  
• How much more energy-efficient would your AC replacement in Ann Arbor, MI be?
  
• What kind of return on investment would that create?

Factor in these decision points and consider how much of a hassle it would be to have your AC system fail during the middle of a hot summer. Using those inputs and a professional’s insights, you can make the appropriate decision about whether to repair or replace your AC system.

How Trusted Heating & Cooling Solutions Can Help You

With Trusted, you can count on accurate diagnostics of your AC system to ensure that we uncover the source of your AC challenges. We use Conduit, advanced digital and LiDAR scanning technology, to provide you with cutting-edge diagnostics and insightful, data-based recommendations.

Other things you can count on with Trusted include:

• We’ve earned our reputation as a dependable HVAC company the hard way, which means we do things right the first time, avoiding shortcuts that don’t really help the homeowner in the long run.
  
• We make our recommendations based on what’s best for you, the homeowner, rather than what would help our company and its revenues.
  
• Transparent quotes with detailed information and no hidden fees or surprises help you make the right decision for your home.

Plus, we offer:

• Quality customer service: courteous, respectful, and timely.
  
• Strong warranty protections
  
• 100% satisfaction, guaranteed!

Don’t Suffer. Reach Out to Trusted Heating & Cooling Solutions

Reach out to Trusted Heating & Cooling Solutions online or call 810-355-1669 for a prompt, courteous response.