The Fall Heat—Watch Out for Your Air Conditioner!

We’re dealing with another hot early fall here in Austin, with days frequently peaking in the 90s. This isn’t good news for your beleaguered air conditioning system, which has already had to deal with a long summer of steady work. This is a time when your AC is most likely to suffer a major malfunction because of the accumulation of wear and tear on it.

It’s important to never ignore any signs of problems with your air conditioner in Austin, TX, no matter how late in the year it is. Don’t count on the relief from cooler weather to bail you out when your AC is struggling. A call to our NATE-certified, dependable HVAC technicians for repairs is easy to do—and it rewards you with a dependable AC that has a longer service life.

SOME AC PROBLEMS TO WATCH FOR IN THE FALL HEAT

Below are a few common air conditioning malfunctions that can strike during this time of year when the heat has already taken a heavy toll:

• Failed capacitors – Capacitors are electric components responsible for sending voltage to the motors in the AC to start them running and keep them running. The blower, the outdoor fan, and the compressor all have a set of capacitors. Extreme heat can lower a capacitor’s ability to hold an electric charge and eventually cause it to fail—so these parts of the AC are at high risk during late-season heat. When a capacitor begins to fail, it will give off a clicking sound. You may also notice motors in the AC hard-starting. Don’t try to replace capacitors on your own—let our technicians make sure the right new capacitors are put in place.
• Low airflow – Have you noticed the air coming from one or more of the room vents feels weaker than normal? This often means the air filter in the HVAC cabinet is clogged up and needs to be swapped for a new one. Changing the filter should be done every one to three months, and it’s a job people often forget during the transitional seasons. If changing the air filter doesn’t fix the low airflow, the HVAC system ductwork may be leaking or the blower fan is malfunctioning.
• Ice on the evaporator coil – No, you should never see ice forming along with the indoor coil of the AC. An air conditioner doesn’t use ice to operate, and when it does appear it means something is interfering with the coil’s ability to absorb heat. There are multiple possible reasons for this to happen, but at this time of the year, one of the most likely causes is dirt and dust along with the coil. Don’t try to scrape off the ice yourself! You must have the underlying problem solved first, so call the experts.
• Uneven cooling – The AC isn’t cooling all parts of the house as well as it once did. In fall, this may indicate that the outdoor coil is dirty and the air conditioner isn’t able to exhaust heat as well to the outside. There are other potential causes, and you’ll want an HVAC technician to inspect the system to find out what needs to be fixed.

iAir Services serves the Greater Austin Area. The Intelligent choice today makes cents tomorrow.