How Do You Know It’s a Cooling Emergency?
When your air conditioning goes out in the middle of summer, it certainly feels like an emergency. But how do you know when it is appropriate to call for emergency AC repair? Just because your AC isn’t working, does that constitute an emergency?
At Donmar Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, we know how important a functioning AC is in the summer, but we also know you want to avoid emergency service costs if possible. Below we review a few examples of AC emergencies to help you know when to call our emergency cooling repair team and when you can wait.
Cooling Emergency #1: The Outside Temp Is 80°+
If your air conditioner breaks down and the temperature outside exceeds 80°, this would be considered a cooling emergency. When temperatures get this high, especially in VA and MD, where it is also very humid, your home can heat up incredibly quickly. This can create hazardous conditions for you and your family. In these cases, we recommend that you call Donmar Heating, Cooling & Plumbing right away and then work to keep your home as cool as possible in the meantime.
If you cannot keep your home cool, we recommend going to a shopping mall, a neighbor’s home, or somewhere with reliable air conditioning.
Cooling Emergency #2: You Have Vulnerable Family Members
If you have small children or elderly family members living with you, you need to be more cognizant of the temperature inside your home. Babies, children under four, and adults 65+ are more vulnerable to heat stroke. Therefore, if your air conditioning goes out, you need to have it fixed as soon as possible, and you will need to pay attention to the temperature in your home. As mentioned above, if you cannot keep temperatures down in your home, you will need to take your family members somewhere that is reliably cool until your AC is fixed.
Cooling Emergency #3: Leaking and/or Electrical Issues
If your AC unit is leaking refrigerant or you notice electrical issues, you should also consider this an emergency. Both of these problems can be hazardous to your health and safety, especially electrical problems leading to electrical fires. When your AC isn’t working correctly, and you suspect or see a leak, or if you smell burning or feel heat coming from your registers when the system is set to “cool,” turn off the unit and call us as soon as possible. If there is a fire, call 911.
When Not to Call for Emergency Service
Just as it is important to know when you should call for an emergency repair service, you should also know when you don’t need to call and can wait for a regular repair appointment. Knowing the difference can save you some stress and money.
You can usually wait for regular repair service if:
- Your AC is cooling, just not as efficiently as it has in the past
- Your system doesn’t turn on, but the weather outside is cool, and you’re able to keep your home at a reasonable temperature
- Your thermostat is malfunctioning, but the rest of the system seems to be working
- You are having issues with your air filter and need help changing it
- Your AC isn’t as efficient as it once was, and you want to talk about replacing it
- You need to schedule your regular maintenance visit
If you are having trouble with your air conditioning, but aren’t sure if it is an emergency situation or not, just reach out to the AC repair team at Donmar Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. We can discuss your issue and help you get things back up and running (we are also always happy to do some quick troubleshooting with you over the phone). If it is an emergency, we will send out our emergency AC repair team. Otherwise, we can schedule you for our next available repair appointment.
To speak with us today, call (703) 457-8676 or send us a message online.