It's that time of year again! With spring cleaning and summer preparations in full swing, have you thought about your air conditioner? Whether you have a traditional AC unit or a mini split heat pump, it may be time for a tune-up. Check out these tell-tale signs your air conditioner is in need of HVAC maintenance services from Brower Mechanical.

1. Strange Sounds

While some sounds from your AC unit are normal—especially if your HVAC is old—there are a few sounds that signal a problem, including:

• Hissing
• Whistling
• Banging
• Buzzing

These sounds can point to problems like obstructed airflow, damaged blades, or even a dying motor. If you hear any of them, you should call Brower Mechanical for a tune up before they turn into more serious problems that require costly repairs.

2. Bad Odors

A wet air filter, clogs in your duct system, or moisture build-up could be causing weird smells to come from your air conditioner. The source of these smells could be causing mold growth and indoor air quality issues in your home. In some cases, smells can mean your AC unit needs emergency services, like burning or skunk (for gas-powered air conditioners). In these cases, turn off your unit immediately and call Brower Mechanical.

3. Increased Energy Bills

Have your energy bills been rising without any changes in your usage? While electricity rates are significantly increasing nationwide and locally—especially for PG&E customers—the problem could be aggravated by your HVAC system using more energy than normal. Your AC could be overworking for a variety of reasons, like old age or lack of maintenance. Regular tune-ups can help extend the lifespan of your AC unit and keep it running efficiently for longer.

4. Not Cooling Properly

This may be the most obvious sign your air conditioner is in need of maintenance. Your AC could be blowing warm air for a variety of reasons, like:

• Coils need to be cleaned or replaced
• Low on refrigerant
• Dirty air filter

Any of these can also cause restricted air flow and lead to an overloaded HVAC system that needs costly repairs.. These issues can be prevented with regular HVAC tune-ups!

5. Short Cycling

If your AC unit constantly turns off and on, it is short cycling. This is usually because your air conditioning system is improperly sized for your home and there are performance problems with your home, like poor windows and insulation. The experts at Brower Mechanical can help you determine exactly why your AC is short cycling and if it’s time for AC replacement.

Call Brower Mechanical for HVAC Maintenance

If you’re seeing any of these symptoms in your AC unit, schedule a tune-up with Brower Mechanical today. An HVAC tune-up is worth it because not only can it extend the life of your system, but it also keeps your AC running more efficiently when you need it most. Every HVAC tune-up from Brower Mechanical includes a thorough inspection of all of its components and provides many benefits, like:

• Increased home safety
• Prevention of costly repairs
• Early detection of any potential problems
• Better indoor air quality

If you want to have further peace of mind with your air conditioner, sign up for one of our three maintenance agreements! We’ll automatically schedule your AC tune-up before the peak season and help you save on energy bills throughout the year.

Sign up for a maintenance agreement and schedule your spring AC tune-up. Call 916-624-0808 or contact us online.