Not only was the cooling system putting out less cool air, there was also the risk of polluted indoor air quality
Living in Largo, Florida, the air conditioner is a priority and a necessity. I run the cooling system nearly all year round, and it regularly handles temperatures in the high nineties or even triple digits. I spent quite a bit of money for a high-efficiency, Energy Star rated air conditioner for my home. When I first started up the cooling unit last year, I noticed that it was making some odd noises. I hoped that it would work out any issues after it ran for a while. Instead, the concerns grew steadily worse. There was a musty smell coming from the vents and a significant amount of dust and other contaminants circulating in our breathing air. The cooling system seemed to be supplying less cool air than normal. Despite lowering the thermostat several times, the house felt slightly overheated and sticky. The air conditioner ran just about non stop and the cost of my monthly energy bill was a very unpleasant surprise. When I finally scheduled professional repair, the technicians opened up the air conditioner and showed me the problem. There was a great deal of dust, lint, mold growth and all sorts of debris clogging the inner workings. There was even algae growing in the condensate drain. This buildup was restricting airflow, hindering performance and forced the cooling system to work harder, use more energy and cycle longer. Not only was the cooling system putting out less cool air, there was also the risk of polluted indoor air quality. Fortunately, a thorough cleaning and tuning fixed the various issues with operation. I have now enrolled into a maintenance program for the air conditioner.