With proper maintenance and filter changes, most central air conditioners should last 10 to 15 years or longer. Fortunately, you can further extend the life of your air conditioner by making needed repairs before the problems get worse. Here are four signs that indicate your air conditioner needs professional attention.

1. Leaks, Odors, or Strange Noises From the AC

The first telltale sign that your air conditioner needs repair is that it makes strange noises. Any squeaking, grinding, hissing, or rattling sounds are red flags that you should not ignore. Continuing to run your air conditioner when it’s making any of these noises could cause more damage.

Strange smells, condensation dripping from the coils, and refrigerant leaks are additional signs that you need to repair your cooling system. That moisture might also damage your home, allowing mold to grow inside it.

2. Poor Airflow

Poor airflow is one of the most common AC problems, especially with central HVAC systems. While the blower motor or some other mechanical component may be faulty, the problem often lies within your ductwork.

Over the years, your air ducts could develop holes and tears that allow air to escape. This reduces the airflow to some rooms in your home. Sealing your leaky air ducts will solve that problem. In other cases, the flexible air ducts might simply be crushed or collapsed due to workers accidentally bumping into them when performing home repairs.

3. AC Blowing Warm Air

Another sign you need to call an air conditioning repair technician is that your AC blows warm air or air that is only slightly cooler than room temperature. This is often an indication that your unit is low on refrigerant. Also, double-check that your thermostat isn’t accidentally set to the “Heat” or “Fan” mode rather than the “Cool” setting. If that’s not the problem, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

If you haven’t had a professional tune-up in years, our technicians may be able to solve the problem just by topping off the refrigerant, cleaning the system, lubricating the moving parts, and tightening connections. We’ll also determine if there are any leaks causing refrigerant levels to drop.

4. AC Running Constantly

If your air conditioner is low on refrigerant or has low airflow, then it will struggle to keep your home cool and might run constantly. Or it may short-cycle, meaning that it will shut off for a few minutes and then turn itself right back on again. However, if the unit is blowing cold air and has good airflow but won’t shut off when it reaches the desired temperature, it’s possible that your thermostat needs replacing.

If your Tallahassee, FL home’s central air conditioner is showing any of these problems, contact us at Payne today for air conditioning repair. Our technicians will find the problem and fix it quickly so that you can relax in your home once again.