AC Repair: Why Is My Air Conditioner Becoming Less Efficient? | Scottsdale, AZ
If you live in Scottsdale, AZ, you can understand why it is absolutely necessary to have a properly working air conditioning system in your house. The weather around here is known to get uncomfortably hot, and it is hard to imagine how uncomfortable your home would be if you didn’t have an air conditioner. However, despite its importance, your AC can consume a significant amount of energy to achieve its objectives. However, given the amount of work it needs to do, the impact your air conditioner has on your energy bills should be understandable. This, however, does not mean that your energy bills should be exorbitantly high.
Indeed, when your air conditioning system is running optimally, your energy bills need to be fairly low and predictable. Therefore, if you have noticed that your energy bills are rising sharply, there is a legitimate reason to be concerned, and it is important to work with an AC repair service to find a solution. But what exactly can cause your air conditioning system to start losing its efficiency and cause your energy bills to skyrocket? Below is a rundown of the potential reasons your air conditioner is running inefficiently and how an AC repair expert in Scottsdale, AZ, can help you handle them.
Poor Maintenance
The air conditioner is not one of the appliances you can just install and forget. Indeed, for your air conditioning system to work optimally, it must be subjected to routine maintenance. For instance, the air filter must be changed or cleaned on time, while the moving parts will need timely lubrication. Besides, the ductwork needs to be cleaned regularly to ensure nothing is blocking proper air circulation. If you neglect your air conditioning system and fail to see the need to work with an AC repair service to keep it in good shape, it will operate below its optimal level. In addition to struggling to keep your home cool, a poorly maintained air conditioning system will consume more electricity and cause your energy bills to go up. For instance, if the air filter is not changed on time, it will limit the flow of air in your HVAC system, which will consequently force your air conditioner to work harder and consume more electricity than it should.
A Malfunctioning Blower Motor
If you use a central HVAC system, the blower motor has to be one of its most important parts. It turns the blower that pushes air from your air conditioning system to the rest of your house through the ductwork. Therefore, when it is malfunctioning, your AC might struggle to cool your home evenly. For instance, a malfunctioning air conditioning system will cause a weak airflow, which will cause the AC to run for extended hours and consequently consume more electricity than expected. Therefore, if you have noticed weak airflow when you move close to a vent, there is a good chance the blower motor is broken, and your energy bills might start rising shapely. To restore the optimal performance of your air conditioning system, you will need to get the blower motor checked by a professional AC repair expert as soon as you have noticed the weak airflow. The professional will assess the condition of the blower motor to determine if it needs to be repaired or replaced.
A Malfunctioning Thermostat
The thermostat is one of the most important parts of your HVAC system. It allows you to control how cool you want your house to get. But most importantly, it allows you to automate the operation of your AC to ensure that it doesn’t run when it is not needed. Therefore, when your thermostat is malfunctioning, it might run even when it is not needed, causing your energy bills to skyrocket. In such a situation, the only solution to your problem would be to hire a professional AC repair expert to ensure that your thermostat is checked as soon as you notice your air conditioning system is running constantly. The professional will assess the conditioning on your thermostat and repair or replace it accordingly. If your thermostat needs to be replaced, you might be advised to invest in a smart thermostat, which should give you more control over the operation of your air conditioning system. For instance, a smart thermostat will allow you to operate your air conditioning system using your phone. As such, if no one is home during the day, you will be able to switch off your AC as soon as you leave your house and switch it on a couple of hours before getting home. This will surely save you a significant amount of money and even improve the longevity of your HVAC system.
Leaky Ducts
The ductwork is a network of ducts through which the air from your air conditioning system passes on its way to all the rooms of your home. With time, the ductwork can deteriorate and develop leaks. Unfortunately, if a substantial volume of cooled air is leaking from the ducts before getting to where it is needed, your air conditioner will have to work harder to compensate for the lost air. Unfortunately, this means that the AC might consume more electricity than usual and consequently push your energy bills higher. To resolve this issue, you will need a professional AC repair expert to come and assess the condition of your ducts. If the ductwork is leaking, it should be sealed promptly. By hiring an AC repair expert to keep your ducts in good shape, you will minimize wastage and consequently improve the efficiency of your HVAC system.
The Bottom Line
Overall, it is apparent that many issues can cause your AC to lose efficiency. The good news is that most of them can be avoided and fixed if you work with a professional AC repair expert. If you are looking for a dependable AC repair service in Scottsdale, AZ, One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Phoenix is your best bet.
