Common Air Conditioner Problems And How To Fix Them
Air conditioning repair is potentially expensive. Professionals recommend regular maintenance and checkup of your air conditioning units to ensure that you can avoid costly repairs. At the same time, you want to keep your AC in good condition.
To help you understand the importance of hiring professional contractors for preventive maintenance, here are some of the most common air conditioner problems and ways to address those issues.
Common Air Conditioner Problems
The Unit Won't Turn On
This is one of the most common problems that homeowners face when it comes to their air conditioning unit. There are a few things that you can do when your unit won’t switch on.
First, you need to check the thermostat batteries and make sure they are not dead. If the batteries are fine, the next thing you must do is inspect the thermostat settings. Make sure that you’ve switched on the cooling mode and that the right thermostat settings are activated.
In case your thermostat is on, but your unit won’t power up, you should look into the circuit breaker. Any issues with the circuit breaker could affect your ability to turn on the AC unit. All you have to do is reset the circuit breaker.
If none of these suggested repairs and checkups have resolved the issue, you need to call in a professional contractor. They can perform a more thorough and advanced diagnosis of your unit to determine the source of the problem.
The Outside Of The Unit Is Freezing
Several factors can cause the outside of the unit to freeze up. This can be due to insufficient airflow, low coolant levels, and low outside temperature. There could also be an issue with the blower motor.
To prevent more serious problems, you need to call in an HVAC specialist to look into what might be causing your unit to freeze. They have the expertise and the tools to repair the issue and get your AC unit running properly again.
The Unit Is Making Loud Noises
A perfectly fine AC unit should run with little to no noise at all. If your AC unit is causing a loud noise, you need to check it for any issues.
The type of sound produced can be an indicator of the problem. A hissing sound is due to a refrigerant leak. A thumping or rattling sound might be due to a blower motor problem. And a screeching noise could mean issues with the fan motor or compressor. Meanwhile, a buzzing sound could indicate that there is a faulty electrical component.
Regardless of the type of noise your AC unit is making, it is important to have it checked immediately. The sooner the issue is fixed, the more you can avoid more costly repairs.
The Unit Is Not Blowing Cold Air
The main purpose of installing an air conditioning unit at home is to regulate the internal temperature inside your home with a consistent flow of cold air. However, a dirty air filter is unable to produce cold air in your room because it blocks the flow of air in the unit.
To avoid this, make sure you regularly clean your air filter. Do this weekly or as often as needed. It is also recommended that you change your air filter frequently to ensure that your unit is working properly and doing its job.
The Unit Has A Refrigerant Leak
There are two reasons why your unit may be low in refrigerant: this could be an issue during installation or the refrigerant is leaking. The second situation is much more common.
In the event of a refrigerant leak, it is not enough to simply add more refrigerant to your unit. You need a professional contractor to test the unit and make sure that the system is charged using the right amount of refrigerant. The refrigerant charge of your unit must be the same as the specified requirement of the manufacturer. This will increase the efficiency and performance of your AC unit.
There is also another important reason why you should not overlook this problem: refrigerant leaks can cause harm to the environment. Other effects of a refrigerant leak include a frozen coil, damaged compressor, uneven cooling, and high energy consumption.
The Unit Leaks Water Outside
It is normal for your AC unit to leak water outside, especially when it is hot or humid outside. It is also expected when the weather outside is cold since the unit can freeze and cause a leak when that water melts.
However, you may need to have this issue checked as it can be caused by other factors such as low coolant, blocked drain pipe, and a dirty air filter. This is why regular maintenance is a must so that any of the above issues can be avoided.
The Evaporator Coil Is Frozen
This might be a common problem, but it requires your attention as it can cause damage to the entire unit when left unaddressed. The evaporator coil tends to freeze up when there is a lack of airflow during operation. When your evaporator coil is frozen, the AC unit can stop working.
The lack of an air filtration system in your unit can be due to a dirty air filter, blocked ducts, and a damaged fan. Make sure that you monitor these components and make sure that they are working properly to avoid any issues with the evaporator coil. Meanwhile, keeping the air filter clean promotes better indoor air quality and can maximize the performance of the AC unit.
When To Call In A Professional For AC Repair?
If you experience any of the above-listed air conditioning problems, it is best to call a professional HVAC contractor right away. Some of the issues above can be fixed with some DIY steps, but the only way you can guarantee that the AC unit will be spared from complete damage is with the help of a professional.
You might be able to save a few bucks with a DIY repair, but you’ll end up saving more with a professional who can fix the cause of the problem and ensure that these issues don’t happen again.
