Chances are that you have a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system to make your home comfortable. How would you survive the summer heat and winter cold if you did not have it anyway?
But do you know how it works and what keeps it running? Did you know that your HVAC system has a refrigerant that cools the air in your home? Even though your HVAC system might be using a different refrigerant, Freon is the most common.
Sometimes, you might have leakage issues with your HVAC system. In such a case, would you recognize the smell of freon without any issues? Or you will not even know that you have an issue until your HVAC system stops working?
How to Recognize the Smell of Freon
The first thing you should do if your HVAC system is not working is to find out if you have a Freon leak. But how can you do that? Well, try to find out if you have a sweet or musty smell coming out of your HVAC system.
Sometimes, you might get something close to chlorine or rotting oranges smell. In both these situations, you might be dealing with a Freon leak. But does this mean that you will get the smell anywhere in your home?
Well, it depends on the extent of the Freon leak. Sometimes, you will recognize the smell in different parts of your house. However, check the areas around the HVAC system first. You can also check the basement of your home.
However, it does not mean that you will recognize the smell of Freon immediately after you start having a Freon leak. Sometimes, it might take a lot of time before you start getting any smell. In such a case, make sure that you are aware of the signs, not just the smell.
For instance, look for;
- Decreased cooling efficiency: Let us assume that you live in Texas, for example, in Spring. You would be quick to notice decreased cooling efficiency, especially in the summer. Instead of wasting time looking for solutions that cannot help, get AC repair in Spring TX to sort the Freon leak for you.
- Increased energy bills: If you have a Freon leak, your HVAC system will try to work more than usual to make your home comfortable. When this happens, you will start getting unusual and high energy bills.
- A buildup of ice on the system’s coils: Sometimes, you might see a buildup of ice on the system’s coils. In this situation, you might be lacking refrigerant in your system, and this is a sign that Freon might be leaking.
Other Signs of a Failing Air Conditioner
Warm Air From Your AC’s Vents
Even though you might implement other measures to control the climate at home, your air conditioner is supposed to produce cold air during the summer to ensure that you have a comfortable temperature. However, if you have warm air instead of cold one, chances are that your AC is failing.
This could be a result of low refrigerant levels, clogging of your filter, or an issue with your capacitor. Make sure that you have called a professional to find out what could be wrong and fix the issue as fast as possible.
Your AC Produces Loud Noises
If your air conditioner works well, you should not have loud noise coming from it. If you realize that you have a scraping or squealing noise, then it means that you have an issue with your AC.
It could be that you are dealing with loose parts or need to lubricate some of its parts. In such a case, make sure that you have consulted a professional. If not, you will damage other important components of your AC and might end up losing the entire system.
Odd Smell When Turning On the AC
Always make sure that you do not have an odd smell coming from your AC when you turn it on. If you have any smell, the first thing you should check is your wiring. You might have burned some electrical wires and might even burn down your home.
In addition, check to see if you have biological growth inside the air conditioner. If you find any, make sure that you have addressed the issue immediately.
Condenser Not Turning On
The condenser is one of the busiest parts of your AC unit. If you realize that it is not turning on, even if it is once in a while, then you might be dealing with a failing air conditioner.
In such a case, make sure that you have connected the system to power and that your thermostat is working well. If everything seems okay, then call in HVAC professionals.
You do not want to deal with a failing air conditioner at any time in your home. If you keep a close eye on the signs discussed above, you will never have to deal with failing ACs.