August 3, 2022
When your home’s air conditioner malfunctions, you should try to get the issue taken care of as soon as possible. Unfortunately, there may be dozens of reasons why your cooling isn’t working properly. How do you know which one is impacting you? There are a number of problems that are more widespread, and identifying what they are is helpful when your Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning Expert is discussing routes for resolving the problem with 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 instructs your cooling when to start and for how long to run. If its settings are inaccurate, your air conditioning may not work like it should. And if the batteries ran out in a programmable thermostat, you'll have to charge the batteries before you can use it. Run through this quick 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)
- Verify that it’s in 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 addition, dirty filters could cause lots of problems, like decreased airflow, lower indoor air quality and excessive power usage. They can also make the air conditioning work harder and stop working if the coil ices over.
You can easily avoid AC problems by consistently cleaning or replacing your 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 standard rule of thumb, make sure you try to change 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 middle of the summer, ice can develop on the coils. Frozen coils won’t be able to manage the cooling process as smoothly, and in severe cases sufficient ice can keep the AC from running at all.
Freezing can be related to several issues, including:
- Dirty coils caused by insufficient annual maintenance
- Dirty air filters, which reduce 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 melt. This can take up to 24 hours, but you can speed up the process by switching settings to “fan only.” This should blow warm air over the coils without going through a refrigeration cycle.
It’s a good idea to examine the air filter first. If you can’t see light through it, change it out. The other challenges, including dirty coils, a clogged drain line or refrigerant leaks, are best handled with professional assistance.
4. Refrigerant Leak
Your air conditioner needs refrigerant to relocate heat. When it doesn’t have adequate refrigerant, you may notice you’re getting a lot of hot air. Here are a few signs you’re facing a leak:
- Not enough cold air
- Home feels humid
- Extended cooling cycles
- Ice forming on the evaporator coils
- Dribbling or hissing air conditioner noises
- Sweet smell around the air conditioner
If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it probably uses Freon® or R-22. This coolant is no longer being manufactured due to its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Only recycled supplies are obtainable, which makes refrigerant leaks more expensive to correct.
If your R-22 air conditioning system is dealing with a refrigerant leak, we suggest air conditioning installation due to age and the refrigerant being obsolete. New air conditioners employ Puron or R-410A, which is superior for the environment.
We understand that replacing your air conditioner can be an emergency that you aren’t ready 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 valuable manufacturer’s rebates.
5. Water Leak
Your AC unit utilizes a condensate drain line to flush water it removes 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.
Turn off your air conditioner to minimize damage and contact us at 866-397-3787 for assistance.
6. Tripped Circuit Breaker
There can be a couple of reasons why your air conditioning system won't stop tripping its circuit breaker. Here are several of the most common ones:
- Dirty air filter is gravely constraining airflow.
- Your cooling is overheating due to insufficient refrigerant.
- Condenser coils are dirty and reducing airflow.
- Condenser fan motor has malfunctioned and coils are overheating.
- Electrical connections are strained or loose.
- Blower motor is faulty.
- Compressor is drawing excessive power or wiring is faulty.
- Capacitor in control of starting the compressor has broken down.
Like we mentioned earlier, examine 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
A faulty cooling cycle can also be part of the problem. Short cycling is an irritating issue when the air conditioner shuts off before the desired temperature has covered the remainder of the house. If you believe your AC unit is short cycling, pay attention to how long the air is on before it shuts off. Your average air conditioner generally runs for 15 to 20 minutes and stays inactive for around a similar period of time. But when it’s short cycling, your air conditioning is turning on and off in short bursts.
This places heavy strain on moving parts and critical components such as the blower motor. Short cycling or any kind of irregular cooling cycles are routinely caused by overheating. The internal chamber gets too hot and then safety components switch the AC off. This happens again and again, especially if the root cause of the overheating isn’t dealt with.
Trust the Experts for Your Air Conditioning Repair and Maintenance Needs
The number one way for you to minimize air conditioning problems is to enroll in a preventive maintenance program. At Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, we offer several HVAC memberships to fit your needs and budget. Inferior wiring, low refrigerant and dirty coils can be found and fixed through routine service.
Occasionally 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 schedule your repair appointment? Contact us at 303-647-5749 today!