Ideally, when you first have air conditioning installed, you’ll sign up with a company that does maintenance, as well as the installation. The maintenance will make your AC last far longer than it would otherwise, so regular inspections are important, but you also need to keep an eye on your unit to ensure it’s not leaking or having any other issues.
How to Tell If the AC is Leaking
Refrigerant leaks are surprisingly common, but often people don’t realise that the issues they’re dealing with are actually a leak. Refrigerant leaks can cause all sorts of issues, including increased energy bills, poor cooling, and overly loud running. If you notice anything like this, it’s quite possible that you have a leak and should get the unit checked.
When your air conditioning unit doesn’t have enough refrigerant, the compressor can’t keep up the pressure. It can be the high pressure in those pipes that cause the rupture in the first place. If the pressure drops, you’ll notice a few changes in how well your AC works.
Warmer Air
It’s been hot out, so you turn on your air conditioning, but notice that it doesn’t really help. Even after it’s been on for a while, the air is still slightly warm. This is a fairly obvious sign that you have a leak, since the air conditioner simply can’t do its job without enough coolant.
The other issue that can cause this is a broken thermostat. Either way, you will need a professional to come in and check.
Bubbling or Hissing Noises
Do you hear odd noises from your air conditioner? These sounds come from the gas escaping from a leak in the lines within the air conditioner. If air bubbles enter the lines, it can make a bubbling sound, which may be quite obvious, or very faint. Either of the sounds means your unit isn’t going to work much longer. Call in a person for maintenance before it gives up completely.
More Energy Usage
Even if your air conditioner is still running decently, you’ll notice that you’re paying more and more for energy. Without enough refrigerant, the compressor can’t run as efficiently as it did before, which means you’ll have higher and higher amounts to pay each month. Of course, if you are using the AC more often than usual, this can also cause a higher energy usage, but you will need to track your usage and cost over several months to see if this is the case.
Any of these signs may indicate that your unit is in need of repair. Fortunately, if you catch it early, no damage is done and you can have someone repair the problem quickly and efficiently. As previously mentioned, you should choose your air conditioning unit from a company that offers ongoing maintenance so you can just call them up and have them come out immediately.
Preventative Maintenance of Your Air Conditioning Unit
Long before your unit begins to leak, you will want to prevent any potential issues by keeping an eye on it and performing regular maintenance. Often, your air conditioning company will provide annual inspections, but you can also do some maintenance yourself.
Be sure to order a unit that is the right fit for your space. You don’t want to use more energy than you really need to, but it’s also important to have a unit that will provide adequate cooling for the entire space. If you feel the unit isn’t cooling well enough, it’s very possible that it has to do with the fact that it’s not large enough for the space you’re trying to cool.
Keep track of the amount you use your air conditioning. This can be as simple as jotting down whenever you turn it on or off, or you can set up a smart plug to track usage for you. Then compare this to your electricity payments each month so you can see if anything changes over time. This will make it quite simple to figure out when you have a problem, since your energy use will go up while your AC usage stays the same or goes down.
If your AC unit features aluminium fins that are meant to dissipate heat, check these frequently, particularly if there are animals or children nearby. The fins can be bent quite easily and this will block the airflow, making it more difficult to cool the air.
Replace or clean your air filters monthly. This will keep your air fresh and clean, but it also ensures the air will pass through the filters easily. The more it has to work to push air through, the more wear and tear on the compressor and your air conditioning unit as a whole. You may need to clean it even more often if the air in your area is particularly dusty or smoky.
Clean the coils regularly, too. The evaporator and condenser coils are designed to absorb heat from the air and if they’re dirty, the dirt or dust will insulate the coil and prevent air from flowing over the coils properly. These will need to be cleaned at least twice a year, depending on the amount of dirt that builds up.
You should look at the outside section of the unit from time to time. There may be foliage blocking the airflow, which can be cut back, and there could be debris clogging the exterior. Leaves or grass clippings and even dirt and insects can prevent airflow and are easy to remove. Check every month or so and remove debris before it can build up and cause more serious problems.
If you’re not comfortable cleaning the air conditioning unit, you can leave this to the maintenance crew from the company you purchased from. You should schedule an annual visit for maintenance at the very least and during this visit, the technician will sort out all the potential issues and clean. The only thing you really must do yourself is cleaning or changing the filters.
Choosing the Right Air Conditioning Company
It’s worth doing some research before you invest in air conditioning, whether it’s for a place of business or your own home. The right company will not only give you a high-quality product but will also provide follow up maintenance as needed. It makes all the difference to have that support.
Look for a company that has a reputation for being good at what they do. If you’re installing heating as well as cooling, be sure to get both systems from the same company for simplicity. This makes it much easier to schedule annual maintenance.
The people working on your building need to be licensed and have the necessary experience in the area of air conditioning installation. They’ll be able to calculate how much power you really need in order to cool the entire property or just a certain area of it. This is information that will help you decide which unit to go with, but it’s also helpful if the company offers bespoke designs. This means they can create the perfect system to fit your needs.
There are a number of factors that determine what kind of system you need. It’s more than just the size of your property. Everything from the number of windows and where they face should be taken into account before determining the amount of cooling needed.
Once the evaluation has been completed, you should be given an estimate, based on everything the contractor has discovered. From there, you can begin to compare quotes. Look at a few different companies and decide which one has the best price, as well as the most knowledge. The cheapest option isn’t always the best, so keep in mind that references and reviews are also quite important in determining which company should install your system.
Take the time to research the company before you hire them. After all, this is a system that you will have in your commercial building for the next decade or so. Make sure it’s the best choice you can make.
Are you in the market for a bespoke air conditioning system? Mitchells has everything you need, from installation to AC maintenance and everything in between. We offer heating, as well! Contact us today for more information.