Air conditioning (AC) is one of those residential luxuries that truly never gets old. Turning on the AC when the sun is high in the sky and experiencing the immediate cooling effect brings on an instant sense of calm. You depend on your AC unit to get you through those hot, summer days but what if your system goes out seemingly with no warning? It's quite possible that there were a number of red flags along the way but if you aren't sure what to be on alert for it's easy to miss all of the signs. When the following situations become a recurring problem in your home it might be time to contact a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor to request assistance. 

Short Cycling Becomes An Issue

When your AC is working correctly it almost seems to power off and on like clockwork. As long as the climate is relatively steady and you keep the thermostat set to the same temperature, you should notice that your unit tends to cycle up at the same points during the day. This begins to change when trouble is on the horizon. You may be disturbed by how often the system turns on and how short the cycles are. The timeframe could become so tiny that your house is barely cooled off before the unit turns off again.

There are many reasons why an AC unit starts to short cycle. The device could be low on refrigerant charge, the filters may be clogged with dirt and debris or the evaporator coils could be frozen solid. The only way to truly diagnose the real problem is to reach out to an HVAC contractor and ask for a thorough inspection.

Follow Your Nose

As with many other aspects of life, it's very important for you to make full use of your senses. You are probably accustomed to the normal scent your house contains and when this changes it's vital for you to stand up and pay attention. If burning smells begin to fill the air or unpleasant odors don't respond to intensive cleaning or strong incense, you might want to check your AC unit to see if it's the culprit.

Keeping your AC system in good shape shields you from the discomfort you stand to feel if you have to get an emergency repair job. Take note of the symptoms above and if they ever show up have your unit inspected by a professional right away.

Contact a local HVAC service, such as 72 DEGREES HVAC INC, to learn more.