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Seven signs your air conditioner won't make it through July
Air conditioners rarely fail without warning. They hum, drip, ice up or run longer for weeks before they quit on the hottest afternoon of the year. If you know the signs, you can get a cheap repair done in June instead of an emergency call in July.
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NBy Nell Bradshaw, HVAC Guides Editor · Updated September 2026
Quick answerThe warning signs that a Spokane air conditioner is close to failing are a humming outdoor unit, warm air from the registers, ice on the copper lines, water around the furnace, short cycling, strange noises and electric bills rising for the same use. Most point to a failing capacitor, low refrigerant, low airflow or a clogged drain.
Why Spokane acs fail in heat waves
July normals in Spokane sit near 84 degrees, but July 2026 ran almost three degrees above that with a 96 degree peak, and August reached 97. On those days an air conditioner runs for hours without a break, and a part that has been weakening for two summers finally gives out. The signs below usually show up before that day.
The seven signs
Watch and listen for these:
- The outdoor unit hums but the fan does not spin: often a failed capacitor.
- Air from the registers is cool but not cold: low refrigerant, a dirty coil or a struggling compressor.
- Ice on the copper lines or indoor coil: low airflow or low refrigerant.
- Water around the furnace or a wet ceiling: a clogged condensate drain.
- The system starts and stops every few minutes: short cycling from a failing part or wrong sizing.
- Screeching, grinding or banging: fan motor, bearing or compressor trouble.
- Electric bills rising for the same use: the system running longer to do the same work.
What each sign usually costs
A capacitor or contactor is one of the cheaper repairs in the trade. A fan motor costs more. A refrigerant leak depends on where the leak is, and topping up without finding it only delays the next call, which our contractor guide covers as a red flag. A failed compressor on an older system usually tips the decision toward replacement.
Seeing one of these signs already?
Call (509) 404-0016What you can do yourself
Change the filter, keep the outdoor unit clear of grass and debris, and rinse the outdoor coil gently with the power off. If you see ice, turn cooling off and run the fan to thaw it, then call. Running a frozen system can damage the compressor.
Do not add refrigerant yourself or open the electrical panel on the outdoor unit. Capacitors hold a charge even with the power off.
Get ahead of it in spring
A spring AC tune-up tests the capacitor against its rating, checks the refrigerant charge properly and flushes the drain, which catches most of these failures before the first hot week. If a sign has already appeared, our AC repair visits start with the outdoor unit, where most summer failures live.
Smells worth paying attention to
Your nose is a useful diagnostic tool. A burning or electrical smell from the registers or the outdoor unit points to an overheating motor or a wiring fault; shut the system off and call. A musty smell when the AC starts usually means mold or bacterial film on a damp indoor coil or in the drain pan, which cleaning and sometimes a UV coil light fixes.
A smell of exhaust or rotten eggs near the furnace is a gas or combustion problem, not a cooling one. Leave the house and call the gas utility from outside.
When replacement makes more sense
If the system is past about 12 to 15 years, runs on R-22 or needs a compressor or coil, get a replacement price alongside the repair. Our guide to adding central AC to an older Spokane home covers what a replacement involves.
More Spokane heating and cooling guides
AC warning sign questions
Is a humming outdoor unit dangerous?
It can overheat the compressor. Turn the system off and call.
Why is there ice on my AC lines in summer?
Low airflow or low refrigerant. Turn cooling off, run the fan to thaw it and call for service.
How often should the filter be changed?
Every one to three months, more often during smoke season.
Does an AC need a tune-up every year?
Yes for most systems, ideally in April or May.
How long should a central AC last?
Often 12 to 17 years with regular maintenance.
Fix it before July does.
Call for AC repair or a tune-up in Spokane, WA.
