4 Signs You Need to Fix Your AC

by Kevin Smith Author

Stop me if you've heard this before: Your air conditioner, which has never given you trouble before, sputters to a stop on the one day everything had to work perfectly. You decided to have your extended family over. You’re throwing your best friend’s bridal shower. Whatever the event is, your guests are now at the mercy of the elements and your job to keep your guests comfortable just got a lot harder.

What you might not have realized is that there were probably a few signs that your AC was failing. The trick is knowing what to look out for.

Insufficient Air Flow

Air flow is responsible for keeping your entire home cool and dry. It doesn’t matter how effective the AC is at making air cold. If it’s not moving the air, then stale air and humidity will persist. How do you know if you do adequate air flow? A quick and easy test is with a garbage bag. Simply stick a wire hanger in the opening, deflate the bag, place over the air supply vent, and count how many seconds the bag takes to inflate. The test is not perfect, but if it takes more than 15 seconds to inflate, which it has for some of us, you have a problem.

Strange Noises

That rattling sound you have been hearing? Whether it is the fan, debris in the vent, or improperly-installed ducts, the AC unit needs repair. This is one of the most overlooked signs of AC failure. Before you panic, call your local AC service and repair in Suwanee, GA, and cancel the party, check the outdoor condenser unit. It could be as simple a fallen stick in the fan.

High Electrical Bills

Your electrical bill will fluctuate month to month, but, unless you have had a major lifestyle change, bills should follow a trend year to year. A high electrical bill could mean the AC is running longer than it should be. If you are new to your home, try paying attention to when the AC kicks on. If it’s running all the time, it’s very likely that the AC is not working properly and needs some servicing.

Creeping Mold

Humidity finds its home in the South. It blankets everything. If it wasn’t for AC, most communities, Suwanee included, would be a field of bulrush and mildew. If you smell mold in areas of your home and can’t find mold anywhere, it’s possible that your AC has mold. When this happens, the AC unit can spread mold throughout a home every time it turns on. You can try to tackle the problem yourself, but there are areas of the AC duct you may not be able to reach. You can purchase a new system or contact a professional to service the AC.

If you need AC service and repair in Suwanee, GA, you should not hesitate. A working AC is important – not for just comfort, but for necessity. No one wants mold creeping through your bathroom window, let alone Aunt Marge passing out. Fortunately for us, maintaining a working AC is as simple as paying attention and looking out for the signs.