When the air conditioner in your Bermuda Dunes home shows signs of a problem, you do not want to neglect the issue or ignore it believing it is something trivial that will work itself out over time. Even if it is a minor issue, when these are not inspected and an easy fix implemented, they increase into a significant problem, resulting in a malfunction or a breakdown. That puts you at risk in extreme temperatures, which stay warm in the California sun, since receiving reputable service can take a few days.
You want a well-established, reliable team like the professionals with Best in the West Air Conditioning & Heating who will ensure it is fixed the first time. When using this caliber of service in a preventative maintenance capacity, those defects would be caught and corrected before they worsen.
Knowing the AC will be performing at peak performance can give a homeowner peace of mind. Still, what symptoms should you be aware of in between these services indicative of a significant problem? Let’s consider compressor issues and check out a few telltale warning signs.
What Are Warnings of a Failing Air Conditioning Compressor
As a homeowner in Bermuda Dunes, the air conditioning system is an exceptional responsibility requiring you to be mindful of signs and symptoms of issues that arise so they can be handled immediately before these turn into significant problems.
In doing so, many residents employ local professional repair technicians for annual servicing to tune up the system. With this maintenance, the repair providers find minor defects, make corrections, replace worn-out, frayed, or broken parts, and clean the unit.
In between service calls, when the compressor component of an air conditioner is starting to fail, it is vital to be aware of the early warning signs so you can spare the expense and preserve the system from malfunctioning, so there is only a need for a reasonable repair. Find out how to troubleshoot AC problems at this link.
The compressor is the “heart,” if you will, of the air conditioner. The component pressurizes the refrigerant running through the unit. Together these elements are responsible for heat absorption and cooling.
The hot air releases outdoors, and the cool air comes back into the household. Compressors start to have problems for many reasons, whether the age of the unit, refrigerant leak, numerous issues. Check out a few signs the compressor is having trouble.
Hot air not releasing to the outdoors
If you check the fan on the AC unit, it should be hot to show the system is releasing hot air to the outside, so cold air can go back to the inside of the house. If this area is cool or even lukewarm, it’s an indication compression is not adequate or there is a refrigerant leak.
If there has been a steady loss of cooling power, leaking could be straining the compressor.
Unusual noises coming from the system
The suggestion with noises is to stand beside the system outside while someone turns on the system inside. If the compressor is working as how it should, the air conditioner will have a smooth start with the compressor and the fan cutting on with no fanfare.
If there are problems, you will hear sounds, whether screeches, rumbling, banging sounds, popping noise, clicking, vibrations, or clattering, indicative of several issues, including the possibility of electrical problems within the compressor or potentially a loose fan moving within the housing.
It can also indicate a “hard start,” meaning challenges with starting or that the compressor is in the early stages of failing. Any of these signs should lead you to turn the system off and phone the repair technician for inspection and repair or replacement.
The compressor is not turning on, and the AC is not cooling
When the air conditioning is not cooling to the temperature you program despite the fan functioning adequately, check out the outdoor condenser system to see if the compressor and fan are operating. If the compressor is functioning, you should hear this well above the fan.
When this is not functional, a repair tech might give you the decision of repairing or replacing since a compressor that fails completely can be a considerable expense to replace.
For a unit over the age of ten, it is wise to go ahead and replace the system since that is typically the end of life for a unit. Investing in a new, energy-efficient system at this point would make sense.
Tripping the circuit breaker
Circuit breakers are very telling since this means to protect the home from possible fire and will trip in order to do so. That usually happens when the system is overloaded, like too many appliances running simultaneously.
When an air conditioning condenser unit loses power continuously with the circuit breaker regularly tripping, that is a sign that the compressor is likely to fail since it requires more power than average to function and is overheating in the process. If you switch the breaker back on and notice that it is hot, that is a warning sign to turn it back off and call the HVAC professional right away.
High Utility Costs
For homeowners in the Bermuda Dunes area, a sure sign there is a problem either with the compressor or another component in the air conditioning system is when the utility costs continue to rise even though usage is comparable to every other month with the unit.
While an HVAC system is one of the costliest expenses for a home, if you use it in the same manner as always, but the costs continue to rise, the compressor is often the problem because it has to work harder to cool the air. The system will run more frequently, generating more electricity and a higher bill.
Final Thought
Residents of California, specifically Bermuda Dunes, might participate in the annual service of their air conditioning with a reputable, well-established repair provider. Still, in between these calls, it is essential to recognize warning signs the system is in distress to avoid malfunctioning or, worse, a complete breakdown.
You do not want to face the “repair or replace” before your unit has reached its natural lifespan.