In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the general basics for air conditioner care during the end of cooling season, or the fall. While it’s natural to focus primarily on your furnace or other heating elements leading into the colder part of the year, the end of heating season is also a vital time for ensuring your AC is cared for through the winter.
When you work with the team with At Your Service Plumbing, Heating & Air, we’re happy to provide numerous air conditioning maintenance, repair and replacement services at any point in the year, including end-of-season care. While part one mostly focused on prepping the AC unit, part two today will dig into some of the potential late-season AC issues you may run into and what can be done about them.
Good Airflow, Limited Cooling
In some cases, by the end of the summer or early fall you’ll begin noticing that your AC’s airflow is still ideal – but the air coming out of it isn’t as cool as it should be. This could be caused by a few things: Refrigerant loss or some kind of leak, components that are overheating within the system, or possibly damage to your ducts that’s allowing refrigerant to seep out.
Each of these causes is something our HVAC professionals will need to look into. If you notice warmer air than should be present despite good airflow, despite you turning the thermostat to a lower temperature, contact us right away.
Limited Airflow
On the flip side, perhaps your air is perfectly cool – only you aren’t getting enough of it, or certain parts of the home aren’t getting any at all. This generally means there’s a blockage in your system trapping cold air, which will not only raise your energy bills, but also risk frozen coils and several related issues.
One immediate culprit to check: The air filter. If it’s highly clogged, this could be the source of limited airflow. If that’s not it, call our team for further investigation.
Short Cycling
If you’ve noticed your AC turning on and off rapidly in succession, running only a few minutes at a time, this is known as short-cycling. Short-cycling risks your energy bill spiking heavily, plus strains components. It has several possible sources our team can help identify for you.
Growing Bill
Finally, a broad sign of a problem with the AC system at any point in the year: A larger bill than should be present, especially compared to the same month of the previous year. Even if you haven’t noticed the specific signs of AC issues, a spiking bill will often be the red flag that tips you off and leads to a more detailed inspection.
For more on end-of-season AC care, or to learn about any of our HVAC or plumbing services, speak to the staff with At Your Service Plumbing, Heating & Air today.