Noticed some strange behaviors from your air conditioner? Seasonal changes can produce some common issues—or at least common questions. Here are a few you may encounter:
Winter
In the winter, your A/C with heat pump will most often run in heating mode. Some of the common wintertime questions relate to this type of operation.
My A/C unit has water under it. Is this normal?
Yes, this is normal. Your air conditioner’s heat pump is running its defrost cycle to deal with colder temperatures and ice on the outdoor coil. Condensed water is the result.
My A/C is making a weird noise outside, and it’s SMOKING and RUMBLING! Why?
This is also part of the winter defrost cycle. You may be tempted to call the fire department, but this is a normal behavior under these conditions. You can always give us a call 24 hours a day if you’re concerned that it’s something else. Of course, if you see flames or other signs of an actual fire, call 911.
It smells like something is burning inside.
During the first few heating cycles of the season, dust buildup on the heat strips will “burn” off. A burning odor is common, but should clear up after the heat has run a few times.
Summer
In summer cooling mode, your A/C’s behavior differs from heating mode not only in the climate generated within your home, but also the outdoor condenser unit’s functioning. Common questions relate to potential signs of trouble.
Why is my A/C leaking water outside?
While water in winter usually results from defrosting, in the summer it’s also due to condensation, but this time from cooled indoor pipes hitting the hot outside air. This is common and occurs naturally.
My A/C is leaking water into my home/garage.
Water seeping back into the house from the air conditioner could be a sign of a clogged drain line. To prevent significant damage to the unit and your home, clear the clog or call a professional.
My thermostat has gone blank.
Interestingly, this problem can be caused by the last one (clogged drain line or full overflow). So if you’ve checked your breaker box, replaced the backup batteries, and eliminated all electrical causes, the drain is the next thing to check.
Getting Help
Besides keeping up with your own maintenance schedule, keep your system in peak condition with regularly scheduled professional maintenance—your energy bills will thank you too! But when you see something strange, or broken beyond your repair experience, give us a call for a free repair estimate. And we’re on call 24/7 when emergencies arise.
