Will Your A/C Survive the Summer? 6 Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Learn the top warning signs that your AC unit may need maintenance before the summer heat sets in. Avoid costly repairs and extend your equipment’s lifespan with these tips from Caboodl.

Summer’s Here—Is Your A/C Ready?

Before those hot, humid days hit full force, your air conditioning system needs to be in tip-top shape. The last thing any homeowner wants is for their cooling system to fail during a heatwave. But how do you know if your system is ready?

In this guide, we’ll walk you through seven common warning signs that your A/C may need attention—and how Caboodl can help you stay ahead of costly breakdowns.

1. Unusual Noises or Strange Smells

Did you turn your air conditioner on this year and notice sounds that weren’t there last year? Does it smell musty in your home while your A/C is running? Let’s check out some possible causes and solutions to these issues. 

 🔊 Rattling, buzzing, or grinding could mean loose parts or motor issues. Although most furnace blower motors don’t have bearings and belts anymore there are a number of components on your system that could be causing these noises. 

• Furnace Blower Motor (check bottom compartment of furnace to see if motor mount is tight, check blower fan is clear of any wiring/ debris, check blower wheel is tight) 

• A/C Condenser Fan (check if outdoor fan spins freely, ensure fan is clear of any leaves, branches/ outdoor debris, feel if top of fan is warm)
• A/C Compressor ( checking if copper lines are cold will tell you if your compressor is running, check for chugging noise around outdoor unit, this can be a sign of low refrigerant levels)

👃 Musty or burning smells may point to mold in the ductwork or electrical problems. Depending on the smell there are a number of things that could be causing it. From stagnant water sitting in your evaporator condensate pan, to dust and bacteria building up on your indoor coil, the longer you leave it the more likely it is to get worse and potentially cause bigger problems. 

• Evaporator Condensate (check to ensure the condensate line coming off your indoor A/C coil in the basement is clear, stagnant water can accumulate in drain pan causing mold/ dirt build-up)

• Dirty Indoor Coil ( indoor coil can get clogged with dust passing over it and with condensation being on the coil over time the dust/ dirt build-up can cause musty smells while fan is operating)

• Dirty Fan Motor ( are you noticing burning electrical smell, check filter isn’t logged into blower wheeler, check blower motor to see if it’s warm, check if blower wheel spins freely) 

While it’s easy to ignore these oddities, they often signal bigger issues developing inside your unit. As you can see there are tons of things you can check by yourself. Do a walk through of your system before calling a technician to see if anything mentioned above is the culprit of your issue. Don’t wait for it to get worse.

2. Weak Airflow or Uneven Cooling

If some rooms feel like a freezer while others are sweltering, it might be more than a vent issue. Heat rising and cold air dropping is something we can’t do anything about. What we can do is find ways to move and circulate the air in your home more efficiently so the temperature difference isn’t so noticeable. 

Poor airflow can result from a number of things. Let’s dive into the top three airflow issues and a couple things to check in order to diagnose/ solve them.

• Clogged air filters (#1 cause of airflow problems)
  • Furnace air filters should be replaced every 1 to 3 months, depending on the type of filter and your home’s specific conditions ie. Kids and pets constantly in and out of the house will require filters to be changed more frequently. 
    • Standard 1-2 inch filters: Replace every 1-3 months 
    • Thicker 3-4 inch filters: Replace every 6-9 months 
    • Thicker 5-6 inch filters: Replace every 9-12 months
      
  • Maybe your furnace filter isn’t clogged but the MERV rating is too high. You will see all these high MERV rated filters that claim they remove bacteria and allergens from the air but realistically all it is doing is overworking your AC and affecting the airflow in your home. 
  • Furnace filters are just to remove dust particles from going into the furnace, heat exchanger and coil. If you are looking to have something filter and purify the air in your home check out our line of Healthy Climate Products.
• Leaking/ disconnected ducts
  • Lack of airflow coming out of certain ducts can be caused by the duct being disconnected in the wall. Whether it was banged around during a renovation, not connected properly in the first place or disconnected during a duct cleaning no matter how much air you push from the furnace it will always be a problem. This is where our thermal-imaging gun can save you the headache. 
  • Return air locations and blockages are another huge factor in weak/ uneven cooling. People don’t understand the importance of return airs but when you break it down it becomes quite obvious how they affect the system. In order to cool down a room you don’t want to just blast cold air into the room you also want to pull hot air out of that room, by having a return air that is properly connected to the system you will pull that hot air back to the furnace while your supply airs feed cold air into the room. A good rule of thumb when checking your return air is holding a piece of kleenex up the return grille and see if the suction air pressure holds the tissue to the air grille, this is the sign a return air is working and connected to the system. 

• Improperly set fan speeds 
  • Most furnaces you will see on the market come with variable speed motors. A variable speed furnace blower motor is an advanced type of motor used in HVAC systems that can adjust its speed to precisely control the airflow throughout a home. Unlike traditional single-speed or multi-speed motors, which run at fixed speeds, variable speed motors use ECM (Electronically Commutated Motor) technology to ramp up or down gradually based on the system’s demand.
  • Incorrect fan speed settings can cause serious performance issues.. 
    • Too High
      • Lack of heat transfer
      • High humidity 
      • Higher energy use, less comfort
    • Too Low
      • Lack of cooling to upper floors
      • Indoor & outdoor coil freezing up
      • Reduced cooling output
• A variable speed blower is a great asset for comfort and efficiency—but only if it’s properly configured. If fan speeds are off, even a top-tier system can underperform or fail prematurely. Always verify settings during installation or service using airflow and pressure measurements, not just “default” settings.

These problems reduce your system’s efficiency—and comfort. An inspection can pinpoint the cause and restore even, consistent cooling throughout your home.

3. Rising Energy Bills

Cooling costs naturally increase in the summer, but if you’re seeing a major spike without running the A/C more, that’s a red flag.

When systems struggle due to clogged coils, low refrigerant, or wear-and-tear, they draw more power to do the same job. That means higher monthly bills and more strain on your equipment.

Top 2 Causes

• Dirty Evaporator or Condenser Coils

What happens:

• Evaporator coil (inside): absorbs heat from the indoor air.
• Condenser coil (outside): releases heat outdoors.
  If either is covered in dirt or grime, heat exchange becomes inefficient.

Why it raises energy bills:

Your system has to run longer to remove the same amount of heat. In severe cases, the evaporator coil can freeze, leading to no cooling at all.

Maintenance Tip:

Have a technician clean both coils at least once

• Failing Blower Motor or Fan 

What happens:
The blower motor (inside) and condenser fan (outside) move air through the system. If they slow down, seize, or wear out, airflow drops.

Why it raises energy bills:
Reduced airflow = longer cooling cycles = more power used. Motors working under strain may also draw more electricity.

Maintenance tip:
Techs can check motor amps and bearings during routine service. Catch issues before they fail completely.

4. Frequent On/Off Cycling

Does your A/C seem like it’s constantly switching on and off? When an air conditioner is cycling rapidly—turning on and off more frequently than normal—it’s a condition known as short cycling. This usually means something in the system isn’t working properly, and it’s trying (unsuccessfully) to reach the set temperature.

Normally, an AC system turns on, runs a full cooling cycle (10–15 minutes or more), and then shuts off once the set temperature is reached.

Short cycling is when the unit:

• Turns on and off repeatedly in short bursts (often under 5 minutes).
• Never runs long enough to properly cool or dehumidify the home.
• Uses excessive electricity and wears out components faster.
  

Common Reasons Why AC Units Short Cycle:

1. Dirty Air Filter 
2. Refrigerant Issues (Low Charge or Leak)
3. Oversized AC Unit 
4. Thermostat Problems 
5. Electrical or Control Board Issues 
6. Clogged Condensate Dain/ Faulty Float Switch
7. Compressor or Fan Motor Problems 

This issue reduces efficiency and increases wear on your system’s components, shortening its lifespan.

5. Your A/C Is Older Than 10 Years

Most well-maintained A/C systems last around 12-15 years. If yours is approaching or past that mark and hasn’t been serviced recently, it’s time for a tune-up—or to consider a replacement.

When your A/C unit is over 10 years old, it may still be working — but there are key signs and issues to watch for that can indicate declining performance, rising costs, or looming failure. Here’s what to keep an eye on:

Frequent Repairs

As an A/C system ages, key components begin to wear out, especially if it hasn’t been well maintained. Frequent repairs are a clear sign that your system is reaching the end of its useful life.

Instead of just replacing one worn part, multiple components may start failing in sequence — costing you more in service calls, parts, and downtime.

💰 Cost vs. Value: When Repairs Aren’t Worth It

A good rule of thumb:

If a repair costs more than 30–50% of the price of a new unit, and the system is over 10 years old, replacement is usually the smarter investment.

Why?

• Older systems are less efficient, so you’re already paying more each month.
• New units offer better warranties, quieter operation, and energy savings.
• You’re investing in a more reliable and comfortable home environment.

Outdated SEER Rating (System Efficiency)

What SEER Means:

• SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.
• It measures how much cooling an A/C system provides for every watt of electricity used, averaged over a season.
• Higher SEER = better efficiency = lower energy costs.

Why It Matters:

• An older 10 SEER unit uses 40% more energy than a modern 16 SEER system.
• Over time, that translates to hundreds of dollars per year in higher electricity bills.
• Lower SEER units are also typically noisier, less reliable, and offer poor humidity control.

**If your 10 SEER system costs you $200/month to run in summer, a 16 SEER unit would cost about $125–$140/month for the same cooling — saving you $60–$75/month.

Older systems are more likely to fail during heatwaves and can be far less efficient than modern units.

6. What You Can Do (vs. What to Leave to the Pros)

DIY Checks:

• Change your air filter (every 1–3 months)
• Make sure supply and return vents are open and unobstructed
• Clean leaves and debris from around your outdoor unit
  

Call a Pro (like Caboodl) for:

• Refrigerant inspection and top-up
  Thermostat calibration
• Coil cleaning
• Full system diagnostics

If you’re unsure, it’s better to get an expert opinion before small problems become expensive ones.

Book Your A/C Checkup Before It Gets Hot

Don’t wait until you’re sweating to find out something’s wrong. A quick seasonal inspection now can save you stress, money, and discomfort all summer long.

✅ Peace of mind
✅ Improved efficiency
✅ Fewer surprise breakdowns

🔧 Ready for a Tune-Up?

Book your summer A/C checkup with Caboodl and stay cool when it counts. Our licensed technicians will make sure your system is running at its best so you can enjoy the season worry-free.