Why Your Air Conditioner Might Be Losing Its Efficiency And When AC Repair Can Correct It | San Antonio, TX
If you live in San Antonio, TX, then you know how hot the weather here can get, especially in summer. Your air conditioner needs to work extremely hard to keep your indoor temperatures comfortable. To this end, your air conditioning equipment consumes a lot of electricity. However, this does not mean that you should accept abnormally high electricity bills. Therefore, if you have noticed that your air conditioner’s energy consumption is rising sharply, then there is a legitimate reason to be concerned. As such, you might need to get in touch with a professional AC repair service to ensure that the underlying cause of the problem is accurately diagnosed and fixed. Otherwise, the underlying issue might end up causing more serious air conditioning problems in your San Antonio, TX house. But what exactly can cause your air conditioner to consume more electricity than necessary? Below is a rundown of the possible reasons your air conditioner might be losing its efficiency.
Age
Your air conditioning equipment is not designed to last forever. The lifespan of modern air conditioners is 10 to 15 years. As your air conditioner approaches the end of its life, it will naturally lose its efficiency. This can happen due to several reasons. For instance, years of wear and tear can cause some essential components of your air conditioner to start operating significantly below their optimum level. This means that your air conditioner might start taking longer than usual to cool your home properly, causing it to consume more electricity than necessary. Therefore, if your air conditioner is too old and your electricity bills have suddenly started rising sharply, you need to start talking to your AC repair expert about the need to replace it. If you are not sure how old your air conditioner is, your AC repair services provider will help you assess its condition. They will also determine when it was manufactured and advise you on whether to replace or repair the equipment.
Leaky Air Ducts
The ductwork helps with ensuring that the cooled or heated air is evenly distributed throughout your home. Therefore, the condition of your ducts can significantly affect the performance of your air conditioner. For instance, if your ducts are leaking, a significant amount of the cooled air might be lost along the way, meaning that your air conditioner might struggle to keep your house cool and comfortable. In other words, leaky ducts will force your air conditioner to work harder than necessary to compensate for the waste. Unfortunately, this means that the air conditioner will have to consume more energy and consequently push your energy bills high. Therefore, you need to work with an AC repair company to ensure that the condition of your air ducts is assessed regularly. If they have some leaks or cracks, your AC repair company will ensure that they are sealed promptly.
Leaking Refrigerant
The refrigerant is an essential part of your air conditioner. It is responsible for absorbing heat from your indoor air. For your air conditioner to work optimally, the refrigerant has to be at a particular level. Therefore, when the coils and hoses that carry the refrigerant are leaking, the level of the refrigerant in your air conditioner might drop and consequently cause your air conditioner to operate below its optimal level. Unfortunately, this means that your air conditioner’s energy consumption might start rising, pushing your energy bills higher. Therefore, when you notice that your refrigerant is leaking, you need to call an air conditioner repair company as soon as possible. Your AC repair expert will fix the leaks and refill the refrigerant to restore the performance of your air conditioner and consequently reduce the amount of electricity needed to keep your house cool.
Dirty Coils
The condenser and evaporator coils are some of the most important parts of your air conditioner. The refrigerant circulates through the evaporator coil to absorb heat before being pumped to the condenser coil from where the heat is released into the atmosphere. With time these coils can get covered with dust and dirt. Unfortunately, this can affect their capacity to allow proper heat transfer and consequently force your air conditioner to work harder and consume more electricity than necessary. Therefore, for you to keep your air conditioner operating efficiently you need to work with a professional air conditioner repair company to ensure that your air conditioner’s coils are cleaned regularly.
Clogged Air Filters
The air filters are meant to remove particulate pollutants from your indoor air. With time, the filters can collect dust that might clog them and limit air circulation through them. Unfortunately, this will make it more difficult for your air conditioner to cool your house, meaning that your electricity bills might go up. The good news is that this is an issue you can prevent by simply ensuring that your HVAC system is serviced as required. During routine maintenance, your AC repair expert will clean or replace your air filters to improve air circulation and keep your air conditioner running efficiently.
The Bottom Line
Overall, it is apparent that if your electricity bills are rising sharply, it is likely that your air conditioner might be consuming more electricity than necessary. This is because your air conditioner is one of the most significant consumers of electricity in your house and there are many issues that could make it lose its efficiency. The good news is that by working with an experienced AC repair expert, the underlying cause of the problem can be isolated and fixed accordingly. If you are looking for a dependable AC repair services provider in or around San Antonio, TX, bluefrog Plumbing + Drain + HVAC of San Antonio is the best HVAC contractor to consider. We have been dealing with HVAC systems for a long time, and you can trust us to help you resolve any efficiency problems in your air conditioner. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our company and services.
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