Essential Tips to Prevent Costly AC Repairs and Identify Signs of a Failing System

As warm weather approaches, it's important to check on your air conditioning system to make sure it will be able to cool your home over the summer.

We're going to go over signs that your air conditioner needs to be repaired. One of the first signs you'll notice is that it just takes a little longer to cool. The change will probably be subtle at first, may not even be obvious until there's a really hot spell when the outside temperature lingers above 90 degrees for multiple days at a time.

But you'll have that flash of insight one day when the AC runs and runs and runs. Sometimes the only clue you have that your air conditioner needs attention is an electric bill.

A sudden spike in your electric bill is a sign of trouble. A comparison from month to month, or maybe even year to year, can at least give you a sign when your AC needs a repair, and may start using more electricity to cool your home due to a loss of efficiency, a strange noise coming from your AC should be investigated.

Air conditioning doesn't just cool the house by removing hot air, it also removes humidity. If there's a problem, the indoor humidity might creep up past comfortable levels.

If you have a thermostat that can track the indoor relative humidity, keep an eye on it. If the level creeps up, you know you have a problem.

Ice can form on your air conditioner if the refrigerant level is too low, or ice could be caused by faulty wiring or a dirty coil. This will cause poor performance and can even cause a complete failure. Scraping or chiseling the ice from your unit could make the problem worse. It needs to be defrosted, and then the problem causing the ice needs to be addressed by a professional. If you notice water near your furnace during the summer, the seal on your evaporator coil could be compromised.

Your evaporator coil is the indoor component of your air conditioner or heat pump and some HVAC setups. The evaporator coil is usually on bottom of your furnace. Your evaporator produces condensate.

That's why your air conditioner or heat pump has a drain. But if your evaporator coil isn't properly sealed, this moisture can leak into and around your furnace. Schedule regular service appointments to ensure your AC is in top shape.

Regular maintenance is the key to keeping your AC and furnace working well. A clogged filter can make your furnace work harder.

Keep the area around your AC clear of debris. A lot of debris around your AC unit can make it work harder and longer, and will make it less efficient.

You can also clean out the condensation drain. Cleaning out the drain helps keep things working smoothly between tuneups.