Seven Most Common AC Problems and How to Fix Them

When your home’s cooling goes on the fritz, you should try to get the issue dealt with as soon as possible. Annoyingly, there may be countless of reasons why your air conditioner isn’t working properly. How do you know which one is impacting you? There are a number of problems that are more widespread, and determining what they are is helpful when your Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing Expert is going over routes for fixing the problem through air conditioning repair in North America.

Here are the top six common air conditioner problems that can cause your cooling system to malfunction.

1. Thermostat Problems

Your thermostat tells your cooling when to start and for how long to run. If the thermostat settings are inaccurate, your cooling may not work correctly. And if the batteries died in a programmable thermostat, you’ll have to charge the batteries before you can use it. Follow this brief checklist to confirm your thermostat is receiving power and operating properly:

• • Replace batteries if the screen is blank (programmable models)

• • Make sure your thermostat has power (smart models)

• • Check that it’s switched to cooling mode

• • Ensure your desired temperature is below the current room temperature

2. Dirty Air Filter

Old or inefficient air filters are known for turning a perfectly functional and efficient air conditioner into a slow and inefficient one. In fact, dirty filters can cause lots of problems, like weaker airflow, reduced indoor air quality and excessive power usage. They can also make the air conditioner work harder and stop working if the coil ices over.

You can easily reduce the risk of AC problems by regularly cleaning or replacing your air filter. How do you know whether you should change your filters? If you can’t remember the last time you changed them, it’s almost certainly time to. But for a general rule of thumb, make sure you try to exchange flat filters each 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 build up on the coils. Frozen coils won’t be able to manage the cooling process as precisely, and in some cases enough ice can block the AC from running outright.

Freezing can be linked to several 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 freezes, turn it off and let the ice on the coils melt. This can take up to 24 hours, but you can accelerate the process by switching settings to “fan only.” This should blow warm air on the coils without beginning a refrigeration cycle.

It’s smart to examine your air filter first. If you can’t see light through it, change it out. The other problems, such as dirty coils, a clogged drain line or refrigerant leaks, will require professional assistance.

4. Refrigerant Leak

Your air conditioner employs refrigerant to relocate 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 dealing with a leak:

• • Not enough cold air

• • Home is humid

• • Excessively long cooling cycles

• • Ice on the evaporator coils

• • Dribbling or hissing air conditioner sounds

• • Sweet smell around the air conditioner

If your air conditioning system was installed before 2011, it probably uses Freon® or R-22. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured due to its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Only recycled portions of Freon are available, which makes refrigerant leaks more costly to repair.

If your R-22 AC unit is dealing with a refrigerant leak, we recommend air conditioning installation due to age and the refrigerant being obsolete. New air conditioners employ Puron or R-410A, which is more sustainable for the environment.

We realize that replacing your AC system can be an emergency that you aren’t prepared for. Ask us about our Advantage Program™, which offers you a new air conditioner for just one affordable monthly fee. Repairs and maintenance are covered, and you’ll get to retain any valuable manufacturer’s rebates.

5. Water Leak

Your air conditioning uses a condensate drain line to flush water it eliminates from the air. If you’ve skipped air conditioning maintenance, this drain can become clogged with mold and cause water to back up. If this happens, you’ll notice water leaking.

Switch off your air conditioner to minimize damage and contact us at 866-397-3787 for support.

6. Tripped Circuit Breaker

There can be a number of reasons why your air conditioner won’t stop tripping its circuit breaker. Here are a few of the most prevalent ones:

• • Dirty air filter is gravely constraining airflow.

• • Your air conditioning system overheated due to a lack of refrigerant.

• • Condenser coils are dirty and reducing airflow.

• • Condenser fan motor has broken and coils are overheating.

• • Electrical connections are worn or loose.

• • Blower motor is malfunctioning.

• • Compressor is drawing too much power or wiring is defective.

• • Capacitor responsible for starting the compressor has failed.

As we outlined earlier, check your air filter first, as that is most commonly the culprit. Any other problems should be addressed by an HVAC expert like Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.

7. Short Cycling

A faulty cooling cycle can also cause problems. Short cycling is an irritating malfunction when the air conditioner shuts off before the expected temperature has reached the rest of the house. If you suspect your cooling is short cycling, listen to how long the air is working before it switches off. Your ordinary air conditioner typically runs for 15 to 20 minutes and stays off for around an equivalent period of time. But when it’s short cycling, your air conditioning is turning on and off in small bursts.

This puts heavy strain on moving parts and critical components such as the blower motor. Short cycling or any type of irregular cooling cycles are often a consequence of overheating. The internal chamber gets too hot before safety components shut the AC off. This happens repeatedly, particularly if the source of the overheating isn’t dealt with.

Trust the Experts for Your Air Conditioning Repair and Maintenance Needs

The best way for you to avoid air conditioning problems is to participate in a preventive maintenance agreement. At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we provide several HVAC memberships to fit your needs and budget. Inferior wiring, low refrigerant and dirty coils can be found and solved with routine maintenance.

In some cases repairs are unavoidable, 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 schedule your repair appointment? Get in touch with us at today!