Even the harsh winters in Minneapolis-St. Paul must come to an end at some point—although they can linger through April and spring sudden surprises on us just when we think we’ve at last hit warm weather. Now that the temperatures are warming up, with highs in the 50s, it’s time to look forward to the hotter weather. And that means making preparations for our air conditioning systems.
The most important step to take to get an AC ready for the hard work of summer is to have it professionally maintained during the spring. However, there are some steps you can take to check out the air conditioner’s operation. In fact, we recommend you give your air conditioning system a test run to see where it may have problems. This will make professional maintenance easier for the technicians since you’ll be able to tell them about any odd behavior you noticed from the system. If you do the test run after maintenance, you’ll have enough time to arrange for repairs before the warm weather sets in. (Yes, even with the best maintenance, an air conditioner can develop malfunctions.)
What Should I Look for During the Test Run?
Choose a day where it’s warm enough where running the AC won’t be too uncomfortable, but still not a day when you’d actually need it. Have it run for around an hour. Take a tour around the house and outdoor to look over the condenser cabinet. Here are indications of cooling system problems to keep a watch for:
- Unusual noises: You should have a good sense of the sounds your AC makes when it’s running if you’ve already had it for a season. When you hear sounds that are louder than normal or which you haven’t heard before, it often means trouble. These sounds include grinding, clicking, hissing, rattling, and shrieking. Tell your technician about the sounds so they can look into it.
- Hot spots: This is why we advise that you do this on a warm day; you’ll be better able to notice rooms that are still too warm. If you find cooling is uneven around the house, it can point toward an AC losing its cooling power or issues with duct leaks and insulation trouble.
- Low airflow from vents: As you walk around the rooms, check each of the vents to see the airflow from them. If the airflow feels sluggish (or perhaps nonexistent), it can point to trouble with the air handler or leaks in the ducts.
- Smells from the vents: An acrid odor coming from the vents can often point toward motors wearing down. However, you can expect some unusual smells when an AC turns on for the first time, which is simply dust being blown out from the ducts. Wait to see if the odors persist.
Don’t forget to arrange for maintenance for your air conditioning system this spring! Sign up for our Freedom Club to receive annual AC and heating maintenance, as well as many other benefits. We are the company to contact for all your needs for air conditioning in Woodbury, MN.
Freedom Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. serves Minneapolis-St. Paul and the surrounding areas.