Why AC Repair Can’t Wait Until Your System Fully Breaks Down
Listen, I have been in this business long enough to be able to tell you that no one gives a shit about their air conditioning until it decides to blow up on the hottest day of the year. Not a single person. You turn it down, you see no results, you start trying to figure out who you are going to call with a soaked shirt on. That is not glamorous work but that is the kind of thing you want to prevent. AC repair isn’t glamorous work, but it’s the kind of thing that saves you real money and real headaches if you catch it early instead of waiting for a full meltdown.
How Do You Know When It’s Time To Call Someone?
There are several indicators, and they aren’t very discreet once you know what to listen for. An air flow that is warm instead of cold, odd sounds such as a rattling, or a shrieking noise. Water leaking close by the unit, an odor that is odd and has the feeling of being stale or burnt.
One of these alone may not be indicative of a problem, but three or four at a time can be reason for alarm.
I have seen customers drag their problems out so long until the entire compressor needed to be replaced, where the problem could have been corrected by a one hundred dollar repair. Never a fun experience to live through.
The Real Cost of Waiting Too Long
This is what people seem to overlook, putting off AC repairs can not only lead to a more expensive fix, but it will also cost you money every day you choose to wait. When an air conditioning system is working harder to reach the desired temperature, it is consuming more power. This means higher electric bills for you as well as frustration.
This is not a ‘hot and cold’ issue, this is a systems issue.
An inefficient system is harder on components that are used by your heater as well, meaning your heating services could be impacted as well.
Why Regular Maintenance Beats Emergency Repairs
Let’s be honest most folks don’t even think about their HVAC until it goes wrong. Preventative maintenance, like twice yearly, identifies minor repairs early saving you substantial dollars. It’s cheaper.
Less stress.
And frankly, it just makes sense. A quality air conditioning company will check the refrigerant levels, clean the coils, check the electrical connections and ensure your airflow is where it should be. Saving a few bucks today by not doing those things will almost always cost you more later. Ask anyone who had to replace a whole system in July after not spending $90 in April.
AC Installation vs Repair, How Do You Choose?
That’s where things become a little more confusing.. Honestly sometimes repairing is the best route, and others it isn’t, it really isn’t always cut and dry. The general rule of thumb for us though, if your unit is 10+ years and has already been through a few repairs, than you should consider AC installation over pouring more money into an aging system.
Plus with the new units on the market, they are more energy efficient saving you money in the long run.
But, if you have a newer system, and the failure is relatively minor (like a bad capacitor or drain line) than repair is definitely the wiser choice. An honest technician will actually be honest to you here.
What about installing a furnace or other part of your system?
Something people don’t always realize is that the repair work for AC and heating system installation often falls into the same scope, particularly if you’re running a furnace and air conditioner on the same duct system. If your whole system shares ducts, whether for heating or cooling, or both, you’ll find that trouble on one side becomes trouble on the other. So while you’re getting the AC repair guy out, it might be worth asking if he has time to do a quick inspection of your furnace as well. If you can get something small figured out beforehand, you’re not stuck with high-priced emergency heating work in the dead of winter when no one else can come.
Finding the Right Company Makes All the Difference
Just remember-Not all air conditioning companies are created equal. And that really counts for more than most people realize. You don’t want a company that talks to you in strange technical terms, when they are trying to raise your bill.
Request a written quotation.
Ask what their guarantee protects. Don’t be surprised if a confident company welcomes those questions.
What Actually Causes Most AC Problems Anyway?
Honestly, it’s not usually one big catastrophic failure. More often than not, it’s just the slow, gradual deterioration of a bunch of little things. Dirty filters, low refrigerant, a fan motor that has been weak for months, a little bit of corrosion on some wiring.
Your HVAC system is just a compilation of parts, and when one part wears out and starts to perform poorly, the others have to work that much harder to compensate.
That’s when your power bill goes through the roof without any real explanation. A good technician can identify the problem in about twenty minutes, but many people just suffer with their puny, wheezy system for years because it “still kind of works”.
Bottom Line
As far as AC repair goes, its not something to delay for long, because the small problems tend to balloon into big expensive problems quickly! The cost of waiting is generally much higher than the cost of calling someone today. Stay on top of it, get it checked regularly, and do whatever you can to keep cool. If you suspect an issue, call someone before you find yourself sweating over it in the middle of July.