Using All Your Senses To Know What Your AC Needs
Summer in Ontario can be hot, hot, hot! It’s important to have a reliable and trustworthy air conditioning unit that can keep the inside of the house at a crisp spring day temperature and not feel like an egg could be cooked on the concrete. But AC units can act up - sometimes, they just want to say they’re unhappy and need their yearly air conditioning repair. Sometimes, they want to say they’re tired and ready for an air conditioner replacement.
Read on to know what to listen for and how to know the difference between AC repair and AC replacement.
The AC Unit Goes Bump in the Night
AC units might hum a bit to let the household know that they’re there and they’re an important part of the household, doing their part to make everyone happy and comfy. But they can also make noises that are less part of the team and more scary ghouls in the basement. If the AC unit makes unusual and new noises, it could indicate that some AC maintenance is needed.
Some sounds that are especially important to listen to could be grinding, squealing, banging, or rattling. These can all point to underlying mechanical issues, including worn-out or damaged parts, age-related issues, malfunctioning fans, or more. The best course of action is to call an HVAC professional to see what is going on and decide if a repair or replacement is needed.
The Temps Are Soaring, but So Is Your Utility Bill
Summer means vacations to the beach or visiting Gran at her retirement village. It means more time out of the house and longer hours of daylight. For many people, summer means lower energy bills as they spend less time indoors and more time in the sun. If household energy bills are going up in the summer despite not being home or using less electricity, this is a red flag that something is going on in the house.
If energy bills have grown disproportionately from last year and everything else is the same, getting an HVAC professional to see if it’s time for an AC replacement is a good idea. AC units will lose their efficiency over time, so they must work much harder to keep the same temperature. They are also more prone to damage, making the unit less efficient or unable to maintain a temperature, no matter how hard it works. For the homeowner, this means raising utility bills as the air conditioner continues to try to perform at the same level that it used to with dwindling results. It’s important to get a professional in to stop long-term higher bills and figure out if the HVAC unit needs a repair, replacement, or just a bit of maintenance.
Your Bedroom’s a Sauna, but Your Hallway Is an Ice Chest
If the household feels like there are uneven temperatures—some rooms are a nice, cool temperature while other rooms feel like they could cook dinner without a stovetop—that could be a red flag that something’s going on with the air conditioning unit. On top of that, if there is no cool air coming from the HVAC system or poor airflow throughout the house where normally it is good, these could be indicators that something’s going on in the HVAC system in the home.
They could arise for a bunch of different reasons - clogged air filters, blocked ductwork, leaky ductwork, poorly performing thermostats in the rooms, or even a problem with the HVAC unit, including refrigerant leaks or an issue with the compressor. If a home is starting to feel uncomfortable and uneven, like being quite warm where it used to be cool or uneven temps between rooms, it’s best to promptly address the issue by calling a professional in to see if an AC repair or AC replacement is necessary. Having a dependable AC unit is essential to the health and comfort of the family in the hottest months of the year.
About Central Heating
Central Heating provides custom HVAC solutions that you can count on. With expert craftsmanship at affordable prices, they stand by their quality and even offer emergency services for life’s unexpected moments. To get trustworthy and dependable HVAC services in Barrie, ON, call Central Heating today.
