When it comes to air conditioning repairs, the best thing you can do is get them done early. If your AC unit is having issues, even small ones, you should have it looked at before the problem gets out of hand. The worst-case scenario would be to ignore a small issue until it becomes a large one that costs exponentially more to fix. Here are five commercial HVAC repairs signs that should not be ignored.

1. Dirty Condensers

The condenser unit works to keep your indoor air cool by turning liquid refrigerant into a gas and expelling heat as it changes states. When the condenser becomes dirty with dirt and grime, it can slow down the process and cause your unit to work extra hard. This, in turn, will put added strain on other units in your system and lead to more serious problems further down the line.

2. Clogged Evaporator Coils

The evaporator coil is located inside of the HVAC unit itself and works much like a radiator in a car engine, absorbing heat from one environment and releasing it into another. If this coil becomes clogged with dirt or dust, it will stop working properly and cause indoor air quality issues in addition to making your AC run harder than normal.

3. Leaking Refrigerant Lines

If there's a hole or crack anywhere along the length of a refrigerant line, hot liquid refrigerant will escape and cause the unit to lose efficiency. This type of issue is hard to spot, which is why skilled technicians are needed when it comes time for an AC inspection.

4. Broken Thermostats

Just like any other piece of equipment in your building, a faulty thermostat can lead to serious problems if not taken care of right away. If you have a system that doesn't seem to be working properly or isn't maintaining indoor temperatures, call an HVAC professional immediately so they can get everything up and running again.

5. Low Refrigerant Levels

If you think there's something wrong with your AC system because it's not keeping your spaces cool enough, one simple thing you should check before calling for repairs is the refrigerant level. If the refrigerant is too low, your unit won't be able to do its job, and you'll need an AC technician on-site as quickly as possible.

Any of these signs could signal a larger problem with your AC system. While some commercial HVAC repairs aren't major, sometimes it takes more than just one service call to get everything back up and running again. The best thing you can do is schedule routine repairs and inspections with a local company so that you can catch problems early and avoid excessive costs down the line. Contact a local HVAC repair service to learn more.