Top Reasons Your Air Conditioner May Be Working Inefficiently

Posted on: 24 June 2015

Now that summer has arrived, are you wondering if your air conditioner is operating at peak efficiency? Does it seem like your air conditioner worked better when you used it last year? It's not always easy to tell whether the solution is simple or whether you'll be needing major air conditioning repair. Here are some common issues and their solutions:

Mold in your air conditioner: As air flows over your air conditioner's coils, it becomes cool and can bring moisture, which will condense on the coils themselves. This water vapor can help to provide the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. Over time, this mold and mildew can grow to block air flow, reducing your air conditioner's efficiency. Unfortunately, this is not something the average person will be able to remedy on their own. Your air conditioning repair technician should be able to suggest solutions, such as installing a UV bulb within the air conditioning unit that will inhibit the growth of mold and mildew. 

Clogged air filter: While this may seem obvious to some people, you may have been ignoring it because you purchased an expensive air filter for your A/C unit. Your filter may have claimed that it would last as long as three months before it needs to be replaced. However, if you read the fine print, you will find that this is only true in optimal conditions. If you have pets that shed heavily or live in an area with heavy pollen, you will need to change your filter more frequently than someone that has no pets and little outdoor pollen. Inspect the filter visually. If you're starting to see dust buildup, it's probably time to change the filter.

Air conditioner runs constantly: If your air conditioner is always running, even when it's supposed to be off, one of your thermostats may be broken and need to be replaced. Check the inside thermostat on your wall to make sure that it's displaying the correct temperature. You may need to purchase a separate room thermometer for this task, if you don't already own one. If the temperature that's displayed is correct, you should also replace the thermostat's battery if it has one. Just like with a TV remote control, a dead or dying battery could send mixed signals to your air conditioner. If the interior thermostat is fine, then the thermostat in your actual A/C unit may be faulty. An air conditioning repair technician will be able to tell you if your A/C's is corroded or otherwise needs to be replaced.

Contact a business like McKinney Heating & Air Conditioning if you have specific questions about how your air conditioner is functioning.

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