When Should I Call an Air Conditioning Professional?

We all like to channel our inner MacGyver when we can, but when it comes to AC problems, how do you know what’s a do-it-yourself project and what needs the attention of an air conditioning professional? When your unit or system starts to experience these symptoms below, you’ll know it’s time to pick up the phone.

When Your AC Unit Doesn’t Kick On

If you turn on your unit but the air isn’t blowing, you know have a problem. When you live in Florida, a house without air conditioning can and will heat up very quickly, which is why you don’t wait until you’re sweating to schedule an appointment with a technician. If you’re getting hot air when it should be cool—or no air at all—you’ll want to call an air conditioning professional immediately!

Complications that can cause your system not to turn on vary. It could be a failure in the cooling system, complications with your blower, or even just your thermostat not being calibrated. A certified technician will be able to pinpoint the problem much quicker than the Average Joe and, more importantly, have the skills and equipment to fix it.

When You Smell a Burning Odor

If something in your AC unit or HVAC system starts to smell like it’s burning, turn it off and call a technician now. A burning smell is a telltale sign of an electrical complication—yes, something is literally burning! This can lead to your system overheating or even catching fire, which classifies this as a true emergency. For your safety, you should never try to diagnose the system yourself. Instead, allow a trained air conditioning professional handle the job.

When You Hear Strange Sounds

If there’s a clunking, screeching, or other strange noise coming from your AC unit, it’s time to call in some backup. It could be caused by a loose fan belt or your compressor working on overdrive, both of which will require a repair job to fix or replace the broken parts. You do not want to wait to see if these problems “work themselves out” or try to fix it on your own. Doing so could cause more damage, which leads to more costly repairs. Instead, just make an appointment for a technician to come out and take care of the issue.

Trust Your Air Conditioning Professional

Keep in mind that there’s a reason why technicians are specifically trained to work on and maintain HVAC units. If you aren’t familiar with the way HVAC systems or AC units operate, then its better just to leave the care, repair, and maintenance to the professionals.