August 3, 2022
When your home’s air conditioner breaks down, you want to get the issue dealt with at the earliest opportunity. Annoyingly, there may be countless of reasons why your cooling isn’t working properly. How do you know which one is affecting you? There are a handful of problems that are more widespread, and identifying what they are is beneficial when your Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning Expert is discussing options for solving the problem through air conditioning repair in North America.
ere are the top six common air conditioner problems that can cause your air conditioning to malfunction.
1. Thermostat Problems
Your thermostat instructs your AC system when to start and for how long to run. If its settings are inaccurate, your cooling may not work properly. And if the batteries ran out in a programmable thermostat, it won't be accessible at all. Try this short checklist to confirm your thermostat is receiving power and operating properly:
- Change batteries if the screen is blank (programmable models)
- Make sure your thermostat has power (smart models)
- Check that it’s currently on cooling mode
- Ensure your set temperature is below the current room temperature
2. Dirty Air Filter
Old or inefficient air filters are notorious for turning a perfectly functional and effective air conditioner into a slow and inefficient one. In fact, dirty filters can cause lots of problems, including reduced airflow, reduced indoor air quality and greater power usage. They can also make the air conditioning work harder and stop working if the coil freezes up.
You can easily avoid AC problems by regularly cleaning or replacing the air filter. How do you know whether you should change the filters? If you can’t think back to the last time you changed them, it’s almost certainly time to. But for a basic recommendation, make sure you try to replace flat filters once a month and pleated filters every three months.
3. Frozen Condenser Coils
Your air conditioner’s coils are important components because they emit heat from your home into the outdoor air. But even in the summer, ice can develop on the coils. Frozen coils won’t be able to regulate the cooling process as precisely, and in certain cases sufficient ice can keep the AC from running entirely.
Freezing can be connected to several issues, such as:
- Dirty coils caused by ignoring annual maintenance
- Dirty air filters, which restrict airflow
- Clogged drain line, which can trigger moisture buildup
- Refrigerant leaks, which reduce cooling power
If your air conditioner has frozen, switch it off and let the ice melt. This can take up to 24 hours, but you can quicken the process by switching settings to “fan only.” This will blow warm air on the coils without going through a cooling cycle.
It’s recommended to check the air filter first. If you can’t see light through it, change it. The other challenges, including dirty coils, a clogged drain line or refrigerant leaks, will require professional help.
4. Refrigerant Leak
Your cooling uses refrigerant to transfer heat. When it doesn’t have adequate refrigerant, you may notice you’re getting a lot of hot air. Here are a couple signs you’re dealing with a leak:
- Not enough cold air
- Home feels humid
- Excessively long cooling cycles
- Ice on the evaporator coils
- Dripping or hissing air conditioner noises
- Sweet smell close to the air conditioner
If your air conditioning system was installed earlier than 2011, it probably uses Freon® or R-22. This refrigerant is no longer being produced as a consequence of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Only recycled quantities are available, which makes refrigerant leaks more expensive to repair.
If your R-22 air conditioning system is struggling with a refrigerant leak, we recommend air conditioning installation due to age and the refrigerant being obsolete. Modern air conditioners utilize Puron or R-410A, which is more sustainable for the environment.
We realize that replacing your cooling can be an emergency that you aren’t prepared for. Ask us about our Advantage Program™, which gives you a new air conditioner for just one affordable monthly fee. Repairs and maintenance are incorporated, and you’ll get to keep any useful manufacturer’s rebates.
5. Water Leak
Your air conditioning utilizes a condensate drain line to flush water it strips from the air. If you’ve skipped air conditioning maintenance, this drain can become clogged with mold and cause water to flood the system. If this happens, you’ll notice water leaking.
Shut off your air conditioner to prevent damage and get in touch with us at 866-397-3787 for help.
6. Tripped Circuit Breaker
There can be a couple of reasons why your cooling won't stop tripping its circuit breaker. Here are several of the most prevalent ones:
- Dirty air filter is gravely constraining airflow.
- Your cooling overheated because of inadequate refrigerant.
- Condenser coils are dirty and restricting airflow.
- Condenser fan motor has broken and coils are overheating.
- Electrical connections are strained or loose.
- Blower motor is defective.
- Compressor is drawing excess power or wiring is defective.
- Capacitor in charge of starting the compressor has broken down.
As we outlined earlier, examine your air filter first, as that is most likely to be the culprit. Any other problems should be resolved by an HVAC expert like Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.
7. Short Cycling
An improper cooling cycle can also cause problems. Short cycling is an irritating malfunction when the system shuts off before the desired temperature has made its way through the remainder of the house. If you think your AC unit is short cycling, pay attention to how long the air is active before it turns off. Your ordinary air conditioner generally runs for 15 to 20 minutes and stays off for close to the same period of time. But when it’s short cycling, your cooling is turning on and off in small bursts.
This adds heavy strain on moving parts and vital components such as the blower motor. Short cycling or any kind of irregular cooling cycles are frequently a result of overheating. The internal chamber gets too hot and then safety components shut the AC off. This happens over and over, particularly if the source of the overheating isn’t resolved.
Trust the Experts for Your Air Conditioning Repair and Maintenance Needs
The best way for you to prevent air conditioning problems is to enroll in a preventive maintenance program. At Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, we offer several HVAC memberships to accommodate your needs and budget. Inferior wiring, low refrigerant and dirty coils can be found and solved through routine service.
In some cases repairs are inevitable, but as a maintenance member, you’ll receive special discounts on service, 24/7/365 priority service, no trip or overtime charges and more. Ready to join a membership program or to request your repair appointment? Contact us at 540-302-8645 today!