Your lunch guests are on their way. It's 98 degrees in the shade outside, and you suddenly notice it doesn't feel much cooler inside. As you wipe away the beads of perspiration from your forehead, you wonder what the problem is. You check the thermostat on the air conditioner and the temperature's much higher than it's set at. You've been meaning to call a repairman about that funny noise the unit has been making, but you haven't had the time. As the first guests arrive, you regret ignoring the problem. Read this informative article and find out some telltale signs your home air conditioning unit isn't working properly.
1. Strange Noises
If you hear noises such as grinding, squealing, screeching, clunking or hissing when your air conditioning unit is running, there's something wrong. Either a component in the unit is getting ready to go out, or it already has. Immediately turn the air conditioner off to prevent further damage and call for service.
2. Strange Odors
There can be many reasons why the air coming out of the vents smells. It could be that the air filter simply needs cleaned or replaced. Or, maybe there's a dead animal decaying in the unit, or maybe the drain's plugged and mold has developed. If it's a burnt or smoky smell, that likely indicates an electrical malfunction such as a wiring problem. In this case, shut the unit off and call a repairman right away.
3. Varying Temperatures
Another telltale sign your air conditioning unit isn't working properly is if the temperatures in the rooms suddenly vary. If you have the vents or ductwork balanced so your whole house stays uniformly cool, but some rooms are now warmer than others, the compressor in your unit may be failing. Hopefully the problem is a faulty thermostat, which is much easier and cheaper to fix.
4. Warm Air
If the air that's coming out of the air conditioning vents isn't as cool as it normally is, or it's even warm, that's a sure sign there's a problem. If this problem goes on undetected month-after-month, it will show itself in higher electric bills. The ailing unit will run longer than normal in an effort to cool your home.
5. Water or Leaks
If you see water around your air conditioning unit, the problem may be a simple clog in the drain tube. On the other hand, if there's refrigerant leaking out, or frost or ice has formed on the coils, it needs the immediate attention of a repairman.
Resources
http://www.allrightheatingandcooling.com/HVAC-articles/ac-repair/thomasville-ac-repair-signs-your-unit-needs-help/
http://www.ggehs.com/articles/signs-air-conditioning-repair
deadpansolace9706 Community Member 
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