Has the electric bill suddenly doubled?
Or perhaps your office is humid even with the AC cranked. These are tell-tale symptoms that your AC is acting up – and the worst thing you can do is pretend they’re not going to lead to some serious (five figure) damage.
The majority of AC repair service calls occur during businesses hours. By then the failure has already occurred… and your business is sweating.
The good news?
Every tired A/C unit gives you clues way before it quits. Learn what to look for and you could save thousands.
Here’s What’s Inside:
- Why Commercial AC Stress Matters
- The Biggest Warning Signs to Watch For
- What’s Forcing the System to Work Overtime
- When It’s Time to Bring In a Pro
Why Commercial AC Stress Matters
Commercial cooling is expensive. Period.
Cooling alone accounts for 14% of all electricity consumed in commercial buildings according to the EIA. That’s about 170 billion kWh per year. An overtaxed system can double that in a single night.
When your AC unit is laboring, everything is stressed. Compressor. Fan motors. Coils and electrical components wear out more quickly. Cooling power diminishes. Energy bills increase.
Speaking of red flags… The biggest one is your compressor overheating and shutting down repeatedly. This is a symptom of a system in need of commercial AC repair prior to total failure. Once a compressor goes, expect major repair costs – and downtime.
Now let’s look at the warning signs that come before that point…
The Biggest Warning Signs to Watch For
Want to catch problems early? Watch for these telltale signs.
Energy Bills Are Climbing Fast
This is the #1 sign that an AC is working harder than it should.
If your system must struggle to produce the same cooling effect, it will consume exponentially more electricity. According to NIST, poor installation can lead to a 30% increase in energy consumption. Throw in dirty coils, worn parts, or a refrigerant leak…you have expensive utilities.
What to watch for:
- A sudden spike in monthly utility costs
- A steady creep upward month over month
- Higher bills with the same thermostat settings
If the bill doesn’t match the weather, the AC is the prime suspect.
The Unit Never Stops Running
A healthy AC cycles on and off throughout the day. An overworked one doesn’t.
If it appears the system is always running, something is not right. Possible reasons include:
- A refrigerant leak
- A failing compressor
- A clogged air filter
- A faulty thermostat
- An undersized unit
Regardless of reason, running all the time drains electricity and reduces longevity.
Warm Spots and Cold Spots
Temperature in the office should be uniform from wall to wall. If you’ve got rooms that are sauna like and others that are freezer like the system is fighting itself.
Typically this is ductwork leaks, a failed blower motor, refrigerant issues or an undersized system for the structure.
Strange Noises
A commercial AC should run quietly like a hum in the background. Grinding, banging, hissing or rattling is a problem.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what each noise might mean:
- Grinding: motor bearings failing
- Hissing: a refrigerant leak
- Banging: a loose part inside the unit
- Clicking: an electrical issue
Strange noises only get louder (and more expensive) when ignored.
Weak or Warm Airflow
If cool air seems less powerful than before – or starts blowing warm – the system has a problem.
Typical reasons include low refrigerant, frozen evaporator coil, dirty filter restricting air flow, or compressor failure. Each of these problems can be remedied if discovered soon enough.
Humidity Is Out of Control
A working AC dehumidifies the air. An overworked one can’t keep up.
When the building feels clammy and humid even with the unit running full blast, the system has stopped removing moisture from the air. Problem for comfort, equipment, and mold.
What’s Forcing the System to Work Overtime
Knowing the warning signs is one thing. Knowing what’s causing them is another.
Here are the most common reasons a commercial AC ends up overworked…
Dirty filters: Filters get dirty with use. Once they’re dirty, your system must push air through a mountain of dust. It uses more energy and wears down your unit.
Low refrigerant: Refrigerant never “runs out”, it leaks. Low refrigerant causes longer run times to produce the same amount of cooling. Extremely hard on the compressor.
Dirty coils: Coils absorb heat. When they’re coated with dirt, they become miserably inefficient at doing so.
Skipped maintenance: The silent killer. Commercial systems should be tune-upted regularly to run efficiently, when tune-ups are skipped small issues become big costly issues.
Incorrect system size: Too small and it will cycle constantly trying to keep up with demand. Too big and it will short cycle. Either way, it will fail prematurely.
Senior citizen/home: Commercial grade AC units will typically last 15-20 years with good maintenance. After that point, they rapidly become inefficient.
When It’s Time to Bring In a Pro
Some issues can wait a few days. Others can’t.
Call a professional for commercial AC repair right away if there’s:
- Repeated short-cycling or breakdowns
- A burning smell from the unit
- Refrigerant leaks (oily residue near the unit)
- Ice buildup on the coils
- A breaker that keeps tripping
- Loud grinding or metal-on-metal sounds
These flashing icons are emergency signals. Attempting to “tough it out” usually results in turning a small repair into an entire replacement.
If it’s anything else – high bills, poor airflow, humidity problems, odd noises – book within the next week. The longer your system operates while stressed, the more damage accrues.
The Bottom Line
An inefficient commercial AC strains itself. It ages itself prematurely. It costs you money on electricity bills. And it often leads to an expensive, unplanned breakdown when you need your AC most.
The good news is that the warning signs are easy to spot:
- Energy bills climbing without explanation
- The unit running constantly
- Warm and cool spots through the building
- Strange noises
- Weak airflow
- Excess humidity
If you catch these early the repair bill will typically be minimal. Let them go too long and it turns into a big ugly problem.
It’s easy. Get routine maintenance. Pay attention to the warning signs. And call for commercial AC repair as soon as you notice something isn’t right. A healthy system operates cooler, lasts longer and costs less than an emergency replacement.
That’s how you protect the building, the budget, and the bottom line.
