August 3, 2022
When your home’s cooling goes on the fritz, you deserve to get the problem dealt with at the earliest opportunity. Unfortunately, there may be countless of reasons why your air conditioner isn’t functioning properly. How do you know which one is impacting you? There are a few problems that are more widespread, and identifying what they are is handy when your Roland J. Down Service Experts Expert is going over available choices for resolving the problem through air conditioning repair in North America.
ere are the top six common air conditioner problems that can cause your cooling system to stop working.
1. Thermostat Problems
Your thermostat directs your cooling when to start and for how long to run. If the settings are wrong, your air conditioning might not work properly. And if the batteries ran out in a programmable thermostat, it won't be accessible at all. Follow this quick checklist to confirm your thermostat is receiving power and operating properly:
- Swap out batteries if the screen is blank (programmable models)
- Make sure your thermostat has power (smart models)
- Verify that it’s switched to cooling mode
- Ensure your preferred temperature is below the current room temperature
2. Dirty Air Filter
Dirty or inefficient air filters are infamous for turning a perfectly functional and effective air conditioner into a slow and inefficient one. In fact, dirty filters can cause multiple problems, including decreased airflow, poorer indoor air quality and higher power consumption. They can also make an AC unit work harder and stop working if the coil freezes up.
You can easily avoid AC problems by routinely cleaning or replacing your 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 recommendation, make sure you try to change flat filters every month and pleated filters every three months.
3. Frozen Condenser Coils
Your air conditioner’s coils are crucial components because they emit heat from your home into the outdoor air. But even during the summer, ice can develop on the coils. Frozen coils won’t be able to regulate the cooling process as easily, and in severe cases the ice can block the AC from running entirely.
Freezing can be connected to several issues, including:
- Dirty coils caused by insufficient annual maintenance
- Dirty air filters, which reduce airflow
- Clogged drain line, which can trigger moisture buildup
- Refrigerant leaks, which reduce cooling power
If your air conditioner freezes, switch it off and let the ice on the coils melt. This can take up to 24 hours, but you can speed up the process by switching settings to “fan only.” This blows warm air on the coils without going through a refrigeration cycle.
It’s smart to examine your air filter first. If you can’t see light through it, replace it. The other problems, like dirty coils, a clogged drain line or refrigerant leaks, will need professional assistance.
4. Refrigerant Leak
Your air conditioning system employs refrigerant to transfer heat. When it doesn’t have sufficient refrigerant, you could notice you’re getting a lot of hot air. Here are a few signs you’re confronting a leak:
- Not enough cold air
- Home seems humid
- Excessively long cooling cycles
- Ice on the evaporator coils
- Dripping or hissing air conditioner sounds
- Sweet smell close to the air conditioner
If your cooling was installed prior to 2011, it likely uses Freon® or R-22. This coolant is no longer being made as a consequence of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. Only recycled quantities are available, which makes refrigerant leaks more expensive to correct.
If your R-22 air conditioning system has a refrigerant leak, we advocate for 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 air conditioner 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 low monthly fee. Repairs and maintenance are incorporated, and you’ll get to proceed with any valuable manufacturer’s rebates.
5. Water Leak
Your air conditioner needs a condensate drain line to flush water it strips from the air. If you’ve overlooked air conditioning maintenance, this drain can become plugged up with mold and cause water to flood the system. If this happens, you’ll notice water leaking.
Turn off your air conditioner to minimize damage and contact us at 866-397-3787 for help.
6. Tripped Circuit Breaker
There can be a couple of reasons why your air conditioning system is repeatedly tripping its circuit breaker. Here are several of the most common ones:
- Dirty air filter is significantly constraining airflow.
- Your cooling is overheating due to inadequate refrigerant.
- Condenser coils are dirty and restraining airflow.
- Condenser fan motor has stopped working and coils are overheating.
- Electrical connections are damaged or loose.
- Blower motor is faulty.
- Compressor is drawing too much power or wiring is defective.
- Capacitor in control of starting the compressor has gone out.
Like we mentioned earlier, examine your air filter first, as that is most often the culprit. Any other problems should be addressed by an HVAC pro like Roland J. Down Service Experts .
7. Short Cycling
An insufficient cooling cycle can also be part of the problem. Short cycling is a frustrating issue when the system shuts off before the expected temperature has reached the rest of the house. If you suspect your AC unit is short cycling, watch how long the air is working before it turns off. Your average 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 switching on and off in small bursts.
This adds heavy strain on moving parts and vital components like the blower motor. Short cycling or any type of atypical cooling cycles are often caused by overheating. The internal chamber gets too hot before safety components switch the AC off. This happens again and again, especially if the root cause of the overheating isn’t addressed.
Trust the Experts for Your Air Conditioning Repair and Maintenance Needs
The best way for you to prevent air conditioning problems is to sign up for a preventive maintenance plan. At Roland J. Down Service Experts , we provide several HVAC memberships to accommodate your needs and budget. Faulty wiring, low refrigerant and dirty coils can be found and solved through routine tune-ups.
In some cases repairs are unavoidable, 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 sign up for a membership program or to arrange your repair appointment? Call us at 518-417-2938 today!