August 3, 2022
When your home’s AC system breaks down, you should try to get the situation taken care of at the earliest opportunity. However, there can be dozens of reasons why your cooling isn’t functioning properly. How do you know which one is impacting you? There are a handful of problems that are more prevalent, and determining what they are is helpful when your Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning Expert is going over available choices for resolving the problem with air conditioning repair in North America.
ere are the top six common air conditioner problems that can cause your air conditioning to break down.
1. Thermostat Problems
Your thermostat instructs your cooling when to start and for how long to run. If the settings are wrong, your air conditioning might not function like it should. And if the batteries have died in a programmable thermostat, you won’t be able to use it at all. Follow this short checklist to ensure your thermostat is receiving power and working properly:
- Change batteries if the screen is blank (programmable models)
- Make sure your thermostat has power (smart models)
- Check that it’s in cooling mode
- Ensure your desired temperature is below the current room temperature
2. Dirty Air Filter
Dirty or inefficient air filters are notorious for turning a perfectly functional and reliable air conditioner into a slow and inefficient one. What's more, dirty filters can cause a number of problems, like weaker airflow, reduced indoor air quality and excessive power usage. They can also make an AC unit 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 when you should change your filters? If you can’t think back to the last time you changed them, it’s almost surely time to. But for a general rule of thumb, make sure you try to exchange 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 discharge heat from your home into the outdoor air. But even in the summer, ice can build up on the coils. Frozen coils won’t be able to handle the cooling process as easily, and in certain cases enough ice can keep the AC from running outright.
Freezing can be connected to different issues, like:
- Dirty coils caused by ignoring annual maintenance
- Dirty air filters, which obstruct airflow
- Clogged drain line, which can cause moisture buildup
- Refrigerant leaks, which reduce cooling power
If your air conditioner is frozen, turn it off and let the coils thaw. This could take up to 24 hours, but you can quicken the process by switching settings to “fan only.” This should blow warm air over the coils without going through a cooling cycle.
It’s recommended to check your air filter first. If you can’t see light through it, replace it. The other problems, such as dirty coils, a clogged drain line or refrigerant leaks, will need professional help.
4. Refrigerant Leak
Your air conditioning system employs refrigerant to relocate heat. When it doesn’t have enough refrigerant, you may notice you’re getting a lot of hot air. Here are a couple signs you’re confronting a leak:
- Not enough cold air
- Home is humid
- Longer than normal cooling cycles
- Frozen evaporator coils
- Bubbling or hissing air conditioner noises
- Sweet smell nearby the air conditioner
If your cooling was installed prior to 2011, it probably uses Freon® or R-22. This coolant is no longer being manufactured because of its detrimental effects on the ozone layer. Only recycled quantities are obtainable, which makes refrigerant leaks more costly to repair.
If your R-22 AC unit is struggling with a refrigerant leak, we recommend air conditioning installation due to age and the refrigerant being obsolete. Newer air conditioners use Puron or R-410A, which is superior for the environment.
We realize that replacing your AC system can be an emergency that you aren’t equipped for. Ask us about our Advantage Program™, which offers you a new air conditioner for just one affordable monthly fee. Repairs and maintenance are incorporated, and you’ll get to proceed with any useful manufacturer’s rebates.
5. Water Leak
Your AC unit utilizes a condensate drain line to flush water it strips from the air. If you’ve skipped air conditioning maintenance, this drain can become plugged up with mold and cause water to stay in the drain line. If this happens, you’ll notice water leaking.
Shut off your air conditioner to avoid damage and call us at 866-397-3787 for assistance.
6. Tripped Circuit Breaker
There can be a few reasons why your cooling keeps tripping its circuit breaker. Here are several of the most widespread ones:
- Dirty air filter is gravely limiting airflow.
- Your air conditioner is running too hot because of a lack of refrigerant.
- Condenser coils are dirty and reducing airflow.
- Condenser fan motor has failed and coils are overheating.
- Electrical connections are strained or loose.
- Blower motor is defective.
- Compressor is drawing excessive power or wiring is faulty.
- Capacitor responsible for starting the compressor has failed.
Like we mentioned earlier, inspect your air filter first, as that is most likely to be the culprit. Any other problems should be addressed by an HVAC professional like Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.
7. Short Cycling
An insufficient cooling cycle can also be part of the problem. Short cycling is an irritating error when the unit turns off before the expected temperature has reached the rest of the house. If you believe your AC unit is short cycling, watch how long the air is active before it turns off. Your ordinary air conditioner typically runs for 15 to 20 minutes and stays inactive for about an equivalent period of time. But when it’s short cycling, your air conditioner is running on and off in quick bursts.
This adds heavy strain on moving parts and key components such as the blower motor. Short cycling or any type of abnormal cooling cycles are frequently caused by overheating. The internal chamber gets too hot and then safety components shut the AC off. This happens repeatedly, especially if the root cause 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 participate in a preventive maintenance agreement. At Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, we offer several HVAC memberships to fit your needs and budget. Faulty wiring, low refrigerant and dirty coils can be discovered and solved during routine tune-ups.
Occasionally repairs are inescapable, but as a maintenance member, you’ll enjoy special discounts on service, 24/7/365 priority service, no trip or overtime charges and more. Ready to enroll in a membership program or to arrange your repair appointment? Call us at 919-578-4329 today!