Temperatures are just starting to warm up here in the Bay Village, OH area, and residents will begin slowly switching away from their heaters and towards their air conditioners in the next few weeks. It’s not uncommon for problems to arise almost immediately, not because of something recent, but from the simple fact that your air conditioner has likely sat unused for a number of months: letting a small problem grow bigger. We recommend annual maintenance sessions for your air conditioner every spring for just this reason. Here’s a brief list of some common early season air conditioning problems to look out for.
Low Refrigerant
Refrigerant is supposed to remain in a closed loop in your system: a specific type in a specific amount depending on the make and model of your air conditioner. When leaks spring up, it throws off the balance of your system, causing ice to form on the coils and the air conditioner to work much harder than it should to cool the air. When refrigerant leaks spring up in the winter, they can go for months without being detected. Watch for ice on the coils—though never attempt to scrape it off—or a general lack of cool air coming from your system.
Clogged Filter
Every air conditioner comes equipped with an air filter designed to catch hair, dust, and other particles as they move through your system. Over time, they can become clogged, which lowers the flow of air through your system and again forces your air conditioner to work harder than it should to get your household comfortable. You need to change your air filters once a month or so, but make sure you do so before the cooling season starts in the spring.
Contact the pros at Westland Heating and Air to have your air conditioner serviced this spring!
