With summers seeming to be hotter and hotter every year, it only makes sense to invest in a home cooling system to keep you and your family comfortable. Unfortunately, just like any other appliance in your household, your cooling system may experience issues from time to time. We’re going to go over some of these common issues below and whether or not it’s worth repairing or simply replacing the unit.
Blowing Warm Air
One of the most common signs that your air conditioning system is having a problem is that it’s blowing warm air. One of the most common reasons that this happens is that your air conditioning system loses its refrigerant. This renders it unable to absorb heat from your home. In some cases, your HVAC technician can simply recharge the refrigerant and your system will go back to cooling appropriately. However, if there’s extensive damage to the refrigerant line or one of the coils, a major AC repair or replacement may be necessary.
Thermostat Not Working
Another issue may run into with your air conditioning system is that your thermostat doesn’t seem to be working. If the screen is completely blank, the issue most likely lies with the thermostat. It could be dead batteries, a tripped circuit breaker, loose wiring, or the thermostat may need to be replaced. If the thermostat display is working but your cooling system is not turning on, the issue lies somewhere else.
Check the outside electrical shut-off for your condenser unit to see if it was accidentally turned off. If that doesn’t solve the problem, the issue may lie with a circuit board inside your central air conditioning system. If you have warranty coverage that will pay for the circuit board replacement, it’s typically best to have it replaced. However, if you have an older air conditioning system, the circuit board may be discontinued and you may have to invest in a new system altogether.
Strange Operating Noises
Apart from clicking when it turns on, you really shouldn’t be hearing any noise coming from your air conditioning system. If you start to hear an odd sound when your system starts to run, then there’s something wrong inside of it. The tone of the noise that you’re hearing is going to be able to give you some direction of what’s wrong with your system. For example, a grinding noise typically indicates bad bearings inside the blower motor. On the other hand, a squealing noise usually indicates a worn-out blower fan belt.
Your decision of whether to repair or replace the unit is going to be highly dependent on what component is malfunctioning. If your system has a worn-out blower fan belt, then it’s most cost-effective to simply replace that component. However, if the problem is with a larger component like the blower motor, you may want to consider replacing the whole system.
Repair vs. Replacement
There are many factors that you’ll want to consider when trying to determine whether to repair or replace your home’s air conditioning system. Probably one of the most important is the overall age of your system. Most air conditioning systems will last anywhere between 10 and 15 years. If your system is already over 10 years old, it may be best to save your money on extensive repairs and simply purchase a new air conditioning system.
Another factor to consider is the faulty component of your system. For example, if your system has simply lost refrigerant over time through pinhole leaks in your refrigerant lines and coils, it’s typically most cost-effective to simply have the refrigerant recharged.
However, if the blower motor for your unit is faulty, it can be quite expensive to fix. Investing in a new system may be the better option. If you still have warranty coverage on your system, then it’s likely the best option to have the repairs done. After your warranty runs out, it’s likely advisable to do a system replacement over investing in any extensive repair services.
Reliable AC Replacement Service
Bluewater Heating & Air offers reliable air conditioning system replacement service for the Pensacola, FL area. Our HVAC technicians can also assist with all your heating, air conditioning, ductless mini-split, smart thermostat, indoor air quality, zoning service, ductwork, and spray foam insulation needs. Simply call our office today and we’ll set you up with a service appointment for you.
