Is Your Commercial AC Struggling to Keep Up?

September 23, 2024

If your commercial air conditioner (AC) can’t keep your Lorton, VA, business cool, it could impact your customer satisfaction and revenue stream. Fortunately, commercial AC repairs and maintenance inspections performed by professional service technicians can help your AC achieve peak performance. To prevent unexpected breakdowns, schedule an AC maintenance check each spring before the weather warms up.

Signs Your Commercial AC Isn’t Keeping Up

From time to time, you may notice that your AC isn’t working the way it is supposed to. If you notice any of the following symptoms, you need to schedule commercial AC repairs or maintenance with a qualified service technician.

Your air conditioning unit kicks on more frequently than it is supposed to.
The AC is on for longer periods of time than normal.
Your AC is making unusual noises or smells.
The electricity bill is higher than normal.
Your AC can’t maintain an even temperature.

Common Reasons Why ACs Can’t Keep Up

The easiest way to determine why your AC isn’t working correctly is to talk to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) company. Poor performance can stem from many underlying issues.

For instance, a dirty air filter prevents proper airflow and decreases your AC’s energy efficiency. In fact, the United States Department of Energy estimates that a dirty filter can lower your energy efficiency by 5% to 15%. Ideally, you should clean or replace your filter every one to three months.

Likewise, your AC may have a refrigerant leak that is causing it to work harder than normal. Because refrigerants are dangerous to breathe in, you should get the refrigerant recharged by a qualified service technician.

Sometimes, ACs struggle because of dirty condenser coils or blocked vents. Fortunately, these issues are easily fixed by cleaning the condenser coils and removing anything that could be obstructing the vents. Because condenser coils have delicate fins, it’s a good idea to leave this task to the professionals.