As a professional heating and AC service company in Gulf Shores, Alabama, we’ve seen everything that coastal weather can throw at air conditioning units: flooding, humidity and the occasional tropical storm. With warm temperatures all but a couple months of the year, you definitely want to make sure your AC unit is functioning properly.
If you’re experiencing issues with your AC unit, it’s likely due to one of these causes:
1) Grimy coils
In a recent blog post, we wrote about how your AC coils play a vital function in keeping your home comfortable, and how dirty AC coils can be putting a drag on your AC unit’s effectiveness and on the HVAC system itself. If your evaporator coils get damp from the dehumidification process, then dust, dirt, pollen and other air particles can stick to the coils, putting them in serious need of a clean-up.
2) Dirty filter
Your AC filter might need cleaning or replacing. These should generally be replaced or cleaned once a quarter.
If your neighborhood seems particularly sandy, if you have shedding pets, or if you or someone else in your home has moderate-to-severe airborne allergies, you should probably look into replacing it more often, every 30-60 days. Note: A dirty air filter can exacerbate the problem of dirty coils, putting double the strain on your AC unit’s capacity to cool.
3) Leaks
Watch out for two important things that could be leaking: cool air escaping your ducts or refrigerant escaping your system. The ductwork in your ceilings and walls might have holes caused by pests, people or weather damage to your home, and these wasteful leaks aren’t cooling down anyone.
If you have low refrigerant or corroded coils that are leaking out, you’ll need a service call from a repair company to find the holes in your lines.
4) Thermostat problems
Sometimes the issue isn’t the cool air delivery system at all: It’s the thermostat. If your thermostat is broken or if it didn’t get a level installation, you might have issues setting and keeping a consistent temperature, especially if your home has an analog thermostat. For most modern digital thermostats, common issues arise when the thermostat is located in a particularly sunny or shady part of your home.
Remember that proper maintenance and regular cleaning can greatly extend the life of your AC unit and prevent many repair needs. When in doubt, professional HVAC companies can tell if your unit needs a fix or a properly installed new system. At Fields, we always try to preserve a unit and never recommend a new one unless absolutely necessary.
Need advice or a professional opinion? We can give you a free quote over the phone. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.
