Each season brings some weather-related hazard that tests the structural integrity of a new house. In winter, the new homeowner sees how well the heater works. In spring, they see if there are any major leaks during a rainstorm.
Now that the summer is upon you, it is time to see how well your air conditioner (AC) holds up. It can get hot very quickly in Pennsylvania around this time of year, with temperatures reaching up in the high 80s. AC units can be very expensive to repair or replace, so you need to spot signs of contractors not properly installing the device in your house as soon as you can. Here are some red flags you might find if your unit isn’t in the best condition:
The temperatures and their rates
Obviously one of the main signs that your AC isn’t working properly is when there’s no cool air flowing through your house. Perhaps it may have worked when the building contractors installed it, but they could have tested it before the completion of the house or the consequences of their faulty installation didn’t appear until a few months later.
This can result from corrosion or misplacement of the wires or the fan not getting installed properly. If you experience these problems within your first months of owning your house despite keeping your unit clean, then there might be a problem with the installation.
Excessive leaking
One of the most common problems new homeowners find with their AC units are refrigerant leaks. These occur when the builders undercharged your device during the installation or there are holes in the refrigerant lines.
It can be a tedious process to repair these as a technician would have to find every hole within the lines before refilling your refrigerant. Even the slightest under or overcharge of refrigerant can be very consequential to your unit.
Loud noises
A new AC unit shouldn’t be making loud noises that you can hear throughout the house. The most common noises you hear from a faulty AC include:
- Banging
- Clicking
- Buzzing
- Rattling
- Squealing
- Screaming
These generally mean that there is a loose or broken part in the system or there is something off with the refrigerant. If you hear an excessive version of any of the aforementioned noises, turn the unit off before any further damage is done.
Before you get any of the damages repaired, have the repairman examine the unit and inform you why it was acting up in the first place. If the problem was a result of faulty installation, contact a construction law attorney to see if you can seek compensation for this defect.
