Here in Louisiana, air conditioning season is almost year ‘round, and while we get our share of cool weather, heat waves can hit almost any time of year. There’s a tendency during the cooler months to let problems with the air conditioner sit tight until the spring: relying on fans when things get warm and running the heater instead of the air. In most cases, however, this can be a big mistake. If you have a problem with your air conditioner, you shouldn’t wait until spring to get it fixed.
Signs of a Problem
There are very few instances where trouble with your air conditioner results in something serious like a breakdown (at least at first). Usually, signs of impending trouble appear weeks or even months in advance. But unless they specifically impact the functioning of the system, they can be ignored in favor of more pressing concerns regarding jobs and families until the system literally can’t work anymore.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that most people can usually spot simple signs that something is wrong, and while you should never formally diagnose a problem with your AC with proper licensing and training, most people are familiar with the way their system runs to spot any issues when things go wrong. Such issues can include, but are not limited to:
- Low Air Flow or reduced amounts of air coming out of the vents.
- Warm Air, or at least air that isn’t as cool as you expect.
- Higher Bills, especially when you haven’t used the air conditioner any more often than normal.
- Strange Noises that don’t match your air conditioner’s normal functioning.
- Short Cycling, or a system that turns on and off again rapidly throughout the day.
Why You Should Treat It Now
It can be easy to sit on a problem with your AC, especially if it’s sat unused for weeks or months already. Most people have busy lives, and more pressing problems with work and family can demand our attention. Even so, it pays to take care of the issue now instead of waiting until next spring. Why? There are several reasons:
- It can be easy to forget about the problem until the spring, and if you need repairs, a sudden breakdown on the first hot day can be a terrible shock.
- Repairs tend to cost more the longer you wait, since dust and lack of use can cause the damage to spread.
- Winter heat waves are not uncommon in Louisiana, and in the event you are caught off-guard by one, a problem with your AC could spell real trouble just when you need your system to function without difficulty.
- Taking care of the problem now means resting easy over the winter, knowing your air conditioner will be ready to go when you need it.
If you’ve spotted the signs of trouble with your air conditioner here in Laplace, LA, turn it off immediately. Then call in the friendly pros at Professional Heating & Air to get it treated as soon as possible!