What to do when your AC Unit Struggles to keep Up

01 Sep What to do when your AC Unit Struggles to keep Up

SERVING AREAS OF BRISTOL, JOHNSON CITY, AND KINGSPORT TN

Air conditioning units are one of the greatest inventions, although they can be to blame for a great deal of frustration when they malfunction. Newly installed AC units are designed to last a while, but they won’t last forever! It’s already September, although you’ll likely be running your AC for a few more weeks, especially during the day as temperatures peak. Like other household appliances, HVACs require maintenance and repair from time to time. Today on the blog, our certified HVAC technicians in Kingsport at Thompson Electrical Service share what to do when your AC unit struggles to keep up.

Ductwork That Leaks

A leak in your ductwork can decrease your AC unit’s efficiency by as much as one-third. Since the ductwork is losing cold air, the unit has to work even harder to keep up.

Here are some signs that you have leaky ductwork:

• Uneven temperatures throughout your home
• Inside temperature doesn’t seem to be cooling
• Expensive energy bills
• You experience lower indoor air quality

Improperly Sized Unit

Maintaining a comfortable temperature throughout your home requires choosing the right sized AC unit. One that is too small will be consistently overworked, and more likely to malfunction. Likewise, choosing a unit that is too large for your home may lead the unit to short-cycle, which means cutting on and off too often and causing insufficient cooling.

Signs that your unit is the incorrect size:

• Short cycling
• Constantly running (yet not cooling)
• Having rooms too hot or too cold
• Too much humidity inside your home
• High electric bills

Airflow is Blocked

Blocked airflow is one of the most common reasons for HVAC malfunctions. When was the last time that you changed your air filters? Regardless of the type of filter you use, you should change your filters once a month.

Otherwise, you might experience these problems:

• Low air pressure
• Unit blows warm air
• AC coils freeze
• Water leaks from AC unit
• Hot and cold spots in your home

If you experience any of these issues, you might need to call a certified HVAC technician in the Tri-Cities to troubleshoot the problems. While repairs are sometimes all that is needed, other times, installing a new HVAC unit is the best option.

Here’s how to tell if you need a new unit installed:

• Your current unit is older than 10 years old
• The cost of continual repairs exceeds the cost of a new unit
• The unit is not repairable
• HVAC unit is noisy
• Your unit uses R-22 refrigerant
• AC unit is improper size for your home
• AC unit was installed improperly by previous servicer

Certified HVAC Company in Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol

If your AC unit struggles to keep up in Kingsport, it is time to schedule an HVAC troubleshooting appointment by calling Thompson Electrical Service at (423) 343-5726. With our 24/7 emergency service, there is no reason to sweat it out! Our trained and skilled HVAC technicians provide service to the areas of Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol.