There are thousands of cases of hyperthermia throughout the United States and New Mexico each year. It is a potentially fatal condition induced by an abnormal elevation in body temperature. The biggest driver is extreme heat — something Albuquerque and New Mexico have in abundance. Let’s talk about AC repair.

Albuquerque health experts recommend staying in cool areas during hot days. That includes air-conditioned places, such as the comfort of your home.

The reality is, proper maintenance of an AC is the tech’s job — but neglect can leave you with a non-working room cooler. This in turn can also make your home as hot, or feel even hotter, than it is outside.

There is some good news, however: chances are your AC will give you a few signs and pointers before it completely kicks the bucket.

With all of that in mind, keep an eye out for the indicators mentioned in this guide. Then, have your AC serviced immediately on noticing them.

Thermostat Settings Aren’t Accurate for How Your Home Feels

The thermostat is the “boss” of the entire air conditioning system. It’s the key ingredient that allows your AC to regulate temperature.

Small as it is, the thermostat is able to cause the air conditioner to turn on and off. It feels the room’s temperature, and tells the AC to turn on or off accordingly.

If it on, the air conditioner runs when the temperature is higher than the setting. When it cools down to the pre-set temperature, the thermostat sends a message to the AC to power down.

Accuracy and calibration Dirty or out-of-calibration. In contrast, a thermostat that becomes unlatched from its calibration might produce inaccurate temperature readings.

Let’s say you use your air-conditioner and set your thermostat to no more than 78° F, the official advice in the warmer months, from health experts. Unfortunately, if your thermometer is broken, then it can’t “think” that the room is already 78° F, when it’s actually in the mid-80s. And that wonky reading by your thermostat can make your AC turn off prematurely, so your place doesn’t get cool enough.

And in these cases, it’s a better idea to book maintenance of your air conditioner. HVAC specialists can test the thermostat to check its accuracy, and if it’s not accurate, they can calibrate it. You may also want to swap out an outdated, manual thermostat with a programmable or smart version.

Your AC is Cycling on and off Often

If your thermostat isn’t reading the correct temperature, your air conditioner may end up cycling on and off too frequently. This condition, referred to as short-cycling, means your AC will run for only a short period before shutting off, then will start again within minutes. And so, a wayward thermostat that doesn’t keep its calibration, and erroneously reads the temp, can be another suspect.

If your air conditioner turns on and off in too quick of a cycle (fewer than five minutes), your air conditioner is probably short cycling. So your air conditioner might need fixing – or you might just need to adjust the thermostat.

In any event, it’s time to have the AC tuned up and checked out, most notably when short cycling can mean an increase in your energy bills. What’s more, the trio of increased cycles can also put additional stress on your unit, shortening its life.

Your AC Blows Out Warm Air

A faulty thermostat can cause this issue again, it has wonky readings it gives. A bad thermostat can go to natural heat on A.C. with this feature.

Another potential culprit is a dirty air conditioner filter that impedes airflow. Filters are meant to keep the air conditioner parts free of dust and debris, so it can become dirty over time. How long this might take depends on where you live also; faster, if you live in a neighborhood with dirty air.

And remember that much of New Mexico, including Albuquerque, has issues with air pollution.

The dirtier an AC filter, the less air enters and exits the system. Instead, you might feel like your air conditioner is blowing hot air out.

Dirty coils inside of your air conditioner unit can also be to blame for the warm air it blows. For instance, obstructions from dust and debris on the evaporator coils can cripple your AC from removing heat from warm air. If it does, your AC won’t cool the air at all, meaning it will simply blow warm air back into the area.

Hot air isn’t a sure sign you need to fix your AC, but you definitely need to maintain it. You’ll want to get yours scheduled immediately, before you have to make it through the hot and sticky summer out in NM. (Plus, your AC’s motor can also overheat, which can lead to system failure.)

Sniffles and Sneezes Abound

“HVAC systems that are not functioning properly can generate an increase in indoor air pollution,” researchers said. For instance, dirty vents may not work as well in taking in and releasing air into your home. This can again lead to stagnant, dirty air that does not have a way to escape your home.

Poor indoor air quality It should also be noted that poorly-maintained air conditioners can also contribute to the poor quality of indoor air. There are several ways this can occur, one of which is your AC’s air filter becomes clogged with dirt. Dust and debris can become airborne again and with cool air being generated by your air conditioning system.

Either way, even bad indoor air quality can cause air conditioning sickness. This scourge can result in symptoms like sniffles, coughs and sneezes. It could also lead to eyes, nose and respiratory irritation.

Poorly maintained air conditioners can also cause allergies and asthma. Once again, this can be the result of your AC becoming a home to dust, debris and allergens, such as mold, pollen, and dust mites. Now, it should be remembered that in the US, there are roughly fifty million people with allergies, while there are about twenty-four million with asthma.

If someone in your household has symptoms only while at home, your air conditioner could be to blame. Consider this a sign that you require immediate AC maintenance.

For even more security, consider purchasing a whole-house air purifier, like iWave. It also purifies pollutants and other common airborne contaminants in indoor air. It then releases the clean air back into your living space.

Air purifiers even sort of help make your air conditioner’s job, and particularly its filter, easier. After all, your A.C.’s filter will have fewer air pollutants to snare and trap. This in turn minimizes the chances of dust and debris entering the insides of your AC unit.

Weak Airflow

That’s not the same as cold air blowing out the vents; you should still feel some cold air from the AC. But the air force itself will be weak, so it might not go far. That’s why the floor area in front of your AC can feel cool to the touch, but some spots away from it feel warm.

One of the main villains of this problem is an air conditioner that remains in use totally caked with residue. The more clogged up your AC’s air filter, vents or grilles become, the less powerful its airflow is.

So if you have hot and cold spots when your AC is running, call an HVAC specialist. Likely, your AC needs not only a new air filter but also a deep clean.

Your AC Smells Funky or Bad

The air conditioner has a bad odor A bad smell coming from your air conditioner indicates molds, yeast, or dead animals, to name a few potential culprits. Your AC equipment accumulates molds and bacteria if it is moist inside. You can also tell that your air conditioner is leaking water by a funky smell.

In the case noted above, the additional moisture could be from a blocked or overflowing AC drain pan. This pan, after all, gathers the water droplets that accumulate when warm air comes into contact with your AC’s cold coils. So when it backs up, the water won’t drain away, but rather continue to collect until it spills over.

Those are ideal conditions for mold and bacteria to grow.

Critters — including those bugs and possibly small rodents — can also crawl into your air conditioner. If they die in the AC, their rotting corpses can emit a rancid, putrid smell. The odor can spread throughout your entire home the instant you flip the switch on your AC.

There should never be any stink emanating from your AC, so if there is, bring in the HVAC pros.

Keep Cool & Safe with Immediate AC Maintenance Services

So, and here it is, your list of signs you’re in need of AC maintenance NOW! Do not ignore those signals, they are warning you before the strap-ball drops.

Plus, the earlier you get your AC tuneup done, the more insulated you will be against heat-related illness. One of the best ways to avoid these problems, of course, is to sign up for HVAC maintenance plans in Albuquerque that ensure your system operates as it should.

Ready to give your air conditioner a deep cleaning and care?

Well, then just know that here at Day & Night Plumbing we have a team of professional cooling system installers that can help! Call us today to schedule your AC maintenance.