How Do You Know Your Air Conditioner Needs Servicing?

Blocked filters
When an air conditioning system becomes clogged up, it effectively means the unit can’t breathe. This in turn means more electricity will be consumed, for a less effective result. If you ignore a blockage in an air conditioning unit, dirt can build up in the coil and on the blade of the fan. This can lead to water leaks and ultimately, to fan motor failure. Replacing a clogged and dirty filter with a clean one can lower the unit’s energy consumption by between 5 and 15%.

Leaks
If a refrigerant leak occurs in your air conditioner, it could lead to a big drop in performance, culminating in no hot or cold air being produced at all. Refrigerant leaks should only be repaired by specialists, such as Accurate Mechanical Services, who have a company REFCOM certification number and each individual has an F-Gas certificate, as per F-Gas regulations. Refrigerant leaks can also be hazardous to the environment, which is not ideal if you’re conscious about your carbon footprint.

Unusual noises
It’s normal for air conditioner machines to make some kind of noise, but when a unit that is – normally – fairly quiet starts making more noises, it’s usually a sign that one of the internal components needs looking at. With time, fans and other parts can become clogged or partially blocked by dust and debris, causing more noise as a result. This can be overcome by unblocking them and keeping them clear.

Unit not cooling
From time to time, your unit may malfunction and stop cooling effectively. There could be several reasons for this:

• It could be that your thermostat setting has been changed. This is the simplest reason and you can just change it back straight away without any more worry.
• There could be air flow restriction caused by debris in the filter (see point 1 above). You can unclog it, but if you know your unit hasn’t been serviced recently or the filter is old, it may be time to book an air conditioning repair or service.
• If your system has two separate units, an interior and an exterior one, and the indoor one stops blowing cool air, it could be that the outdoor one isn’t working. Check the main fuse board and the unit isolator, and call in a professional air conditioner repair company straight away if the unit is responsible for a blown fuse.
• If it’s an old air conditioning system which has been working for several years, and none of the faults listed in this article can be found, it may just be getting old and you need to think about replacing it with a new air conditioning and HVAC system. Or perhaps it could be running low on refrigerant.

Odd smells
If your HVAC or air conditioning unit starts emitting unusual smells, it’s usually a sign that something is amiss. Smells to be aware of for are:

• Musty smells: this is caused by excess humidity or moisture in the system, and may result in mould or mildew flowing through the ducts. There could be a leak, or the drainage needs improving.
• Dirty socks or “stinky feet” smells: your unit needs to be professionally cleaned as components may have become clogged and dirty.
• Burning smell: this could be due to an overheated motor, wiring problem or other mechanical issue. Turn your unit off from the fuse box and contact a specialist company like Accurate.