Air conditioners rarely die without warning — they complain first. After thousands of summer repair calls, these are the seven symptoms that tell us a breakdown is coming, ranked from "schedule soon" to "call today."
1. Airflow feels weaker than last summer
Weak vents usually mean a clogged filter, a struggling blower, or duct restrictions. Check the filter first; if it's clean and airflow is still weak, the blower motor or capacitor is likely fading — both cheap fixes if caught early.
2. The air is cool, not cold
A healthy system drops vent temperature 15–20°F below room temperature. Smaller splits point to low refrigerant, a dirty coil, or a failing compressor. Low refrigerant always means a leak somewhere — topping off without finding it just delays the inevitable.
3. New noises: grinding, squealing, rattling
Squealing suggests a worn blower belt or bearings; grinding means metal on metal — shut the system off and call. Rattling is often just a loose panel, but it can also be debris in the condenser or a failing motor mount.
4. Short cycling: on, off, on, off
Cycles shorter than ten minutes wear components fast and never properly dehumidify. Causes range from an oversized system to a clogged filter, low refrigerant, or a thermostat in a bad location.
5. Water where it shouldn't be
Puddles near the indoor unit mean a clogged condensate drain — the number one cause of ceiling damage we see. A $150 drain clearing beats a $3,000 drywall and mold job every time.
6. Bills climbing with no rate change
A slow efficiency slide — dirty coils, aging capacitors, low charge — shows up on the electric bill months before it shows up as a breakdown. Compare this July to last July; a 15%+ jump deserves a tune-up.
7. The system is 10+ years old and acting up
Age plus symptoms equals a repair-vs-replace conversation. Our rule: if the repair exceeds a third of replacement cost on a 10+ year system, replacement — especially with 0% financing — usually wins on comfort and lifetime cost.