What’s Wrong With My Air Conditioner? Several Common AC Problems That Arise in Summer

It’s every Philadelphia homeowner’s worst nightmare, turning the air conditioner on in the summer for the first time of the season, only to discover there’s something wrong with it. No one wants to deal with an air conditioner problem, which makes it essential to have a reliable AC repair service company in Philadelphia that you can trust — W.F. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning.

Not having a working air conditioner at home can keep you from being comfortable all summer long, and units that run inefficiently can cost you money and may even pollute the air in your home. Fortunately, many common air conditioner problems that homeowners experience can be fixed relatively quickly and easily by the right team of HVAC professionals. Often, issues with your AC can be a pain to diagnose on your own, but knowing about some of the more common ones is a good place to start. These are some of the most common air conditioner repair issues that Philadelphia homeowners experience every summer:  

Dirty Filters 

Air conditioning filters will inevitably become dirty over time, which can impact air quality and flow efficiency. Homeowners will often turn their air conditioner off after a summer of heavy use and forget that the filters needed to be changed, only to notice issues with their system the next year. When you have a dirty air filter, your air conditioner will not work as efficiently. With a clogged or dirty filter, you may also be putting yourself at risk of numerous issues due to exposure to allergens. While it can have a major impact on the efficiency of your system, a clogged or dirty filter is typically simple and easy to fix. 

Low Refrigerant Levels 

The job of the refrigerant is to send the hot air from your house outside, helping to create the cool indoor environment that all Philadelphia homeowners love in the summer. In many cases, lower levels of refrigerant are caused by unexpected leaks. Simply refilling a leaky unit can help, but it’s likely the unit will leak again if it isn’t properly addressed. By getting any of your system’s leaks inspected by an air conditioning maintenance professional, you can ensure that no more refrigerant is wasted by a leaky system and actually save yourself and your family money over time.  

Excessive Noise 

Some degree of noise is to be expected with any air conditioner, but a consistently loud unit could be indicative of a problem that needs fixing. Screeching or scraping sounds coming from your unit could suggest problems with your system’s belt or motor bearing. Adding lubricant via your system’s oil port can often be helpful in contexts like this. Meanwhile, any kind of thumping or rattling sound could be indicative of a problem with the motor. In these cases, problems can be complicated, and contacting an HVAC repair professional is recommended for dealing with this issue.  

As summer arrives, now is the time to get your air conditioner professionally inspected and maintained. Contact W.F. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning today to learn more about HVAC repair in the Philadelphia area.

Great service, very happy. This is our second Lennox unit from them.