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a/c system

How does extreme heat affect the a/c unit at my Columbia, IL home?

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a/c unit overheating columbia il

As the seasons change, residents of Columbia, IL must prepare for the possibility of extreme heat this summer. Excessively high temperatures can put your air conditioner under a lot of strain, so it is important to take action to protect it. Here are some of the effects of extreme heat on a home air conditioning system.

  1. Insufficient Cooling Capability

If temperatures in Columbia, IL become excessively high, some residents might find that their A/C unit is not able to sufficiently cool their homes. If your air conditioner is already running at maximum capacity, lowering the thermostat will not help. You need to take other steps to cool your home, such as lowering blinds or sunshades to block out the sun. If there are vulnerable members of your household, such as elderly or disabled people, young children, or pets, take them to a cooled location to protect them from heatstroke.

  1. extreme temperatures columbia il

    Reduced Energy Efficiency

As temperatures soar, so do home cooling bills. Turn the thermostat up when not at home to conserve energy. In the long term, you could consider adding insulation to your home to make it more energy efficient and therefore less expensive to cool.

  1. Increased Wear on A/C System

Extreme heat forces air conditioning systems to work at maximum capacity, which can lead to increased wear. Worn parts of your a/c unit could fail during a period of extreme heat. This leaves you without a working air conditioner to cool your home. Prevent this awful outcome by scheduling a tune-up at the start of summer. You can also help to combat the wear on your air conditioner by cleaning the filters regularly, as they quickly become clogged when the A/C unit is working at maximum capacity.

To schedule your HVAC tune-up in Columbia, IL, contact Morrison Plumbing today. We diagnose & solve all air conditioner problems!

Reasons the A/C System is thumping at your Cahokia, IL home

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a/c system cahokia il

You should always expect your A/C system to make noise when it’s running, but a thumping sound can signify a problem with your air conditioner. However, there are numerous reasons why your air conditioning could be making a thumping sound, so you should have it inspected by a licensed HVAC technician if it’s making noise.

Determining the Sound

Much like strange car sounds, people often have trouble accurately describing the sound that their air conditioner is making. Luckily, there are three main sounds that you may hear from your A/C if things aren’t running right: rattling or thumping, screeching, and hissing.

A hissing sound is indicative of a leak in either the compressor or the refrigerant line, so you should have your A/C system checked out as soon as possible if this is the sound you hear. Refrigerant leaks are dangerous and can decrease energy efficiency.

A screeching sound, on the other hand, is often an indicator that the pressure in your A/C’s compressor is too high. You should shut the unit off immediately if this is the case as it can be dangerous.

Thumping Noiseair conditioning problems

If you hear a thumping or banging noise coming from your A/C unit, it probably means that something is coming loose inside the unit. This could be just about anything, although the culprit is often the fan or its parts. If you let a part loosen too much, it can damage the other parts of your air conditioner and lead to even more costly repairs.

As soon as you hear a thumping noise coming from your air conditioning system, you should shut your air conditioner down immediately and call an HVAC technician.

Normal Sounds

There are many sounds you’ll hear from your A/C system which are actually normal. If all you hear is a whirring, popping, or single thumping sound, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. These sounds all occur as part of an air conditioner’s standard operation and shouldn’t be taken as a sign that something is wrong.

The Fix

If you’ve suddenly noticed a strange thumping, screeching or hissing noise coming from the air conditioner in your Cahokia, IL, home, shut it off and give Morrison Plumbing, Heating and Air a call at [hls_phone_number]. Our HVAC technicians can diagnose and fix your air conditioning problem so you can safely and efficiently cool your home all summer long.