Seven Most Common AC Problems and How to Fix Them

When your home’s air conditioner breaks down, you deserve to get the situation resolved right away. Annoyingly, there could be countless of reasons why your AC unit isn’t functioning properly. How do you know which one is impacting you? There are a number of problems that are more common, and recognizing what they are is handy when your Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing Expert is reviewing available choices for solving the problem with 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 instructs your cooling when to start and for how long to run. If its settings are incorrect, your cooling may not work like it should. And if the batteries have died in a programmable thermostat, you won’t be able to use it at all. Try this quick checklist to ensure your thermostat is receiving power and working properly:

• • Replace 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 set temperature is below the current room temperature

2. Dirty Air Filter

Dirty or inefficient air filters are infamous for turning a perfectly functional and reliable air conditioner into a slow and inefficient one. What’s more, dirty filters can cause lots of problems, like reduced airflow, poorer indoor air quality and excessive power usage. They can also make an air conditioning work harder and stop working if the coil freezes.

You can easily avoid AC problems by consistently cleaning or replacing the air filter. How do you know whether you should change your filters? If you can’t think back to the last time you changed them, it’s almost definitely time to. But for a basic 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 form on the coils. Frozen coils won’t be able to regulate the cooling process as precisely, and in certain cases the ice can keep the AC from running entirely.

Freezing can be related to several issues, such as:

• • Dirty coils caused by a lack of annual maintenance

• • Dirty air filters, which restrict airflow

• • Clogged drain line, which can trigger moisture buildup

• • Refrigerant leaks, which lessen cooling power

If your air conditioner freezes, turn it off and let the ice melt. This will sometimes take up to 24 hours, but you can quicken the process by switching settings to “fan only.” This blows warm air on the coils without beginning a refrigeration cycle.

It’s recommended to check your air filter first. If you can’t see light through it, replace it. The other problems, including dirty coils, a clogged drain line or refrigerant leaks, are best handled with the support of a trained technician.

4. Refrigerant Leak

Your cooling needs 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 few signs you’re confronting a leak:

• • Not enough cold air

• • Home feels humid

• • Longer than normal cooling cycles

• • Frozen evaporator coils

• • Dripping or hissing air conditioner noises

• • Sweet smell near 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 as a consequence of its detrimental effects on the ozone layer. Only recycled supplies are available, which makes refrigerant leaks more costly to repair.

If your R-22 AC unit has 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 better 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 provides you a new air conditioner for just one affordable monthly fee. Repairs and maintenance are covered, and you’ll get to proceed with any worthwhile manufacturer’s rebates.

5. Water Leak

Your air conditioner needs a condensate drain line to flush water it eliminates from the air. If you’ve avoided air conditioning maintenance, this drain can become clogged with mold and cause water to stay in the drain line. If this happens, you’ll notice water leaking.

Switch off your air conditioner to avoid damage and get in touch with us at 866-397-3787 for assistance.

6. Tripped Circuit Breaker

There can be a couple of reasons why your air conditioner keeps tripping its circuit breaker. Here are a few of the most widespread ones:

• • Dirty air filter is gravely restricting airflow.

• • Your air conditioning system overheated because of a lack of refrigerant.

• • Condenser coils are dirty and restraining airflow.

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

• • Electrical connections are worn 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.

As we discussed earlier, inspect your air filter first, as that is most likely to be the culprit. Any other problems will need to be taken care of by an HVAC pro like Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.

7. Short Cycling

A faulty cooling cycle can also be part of the problem. Short cycling is an irritating error when the system shuts off before the desired temperature has made its way through the entire house. If you think your air conditioner is short cycling, listen to how long the air is on before it turns off. Your average air conditioner usually runs for 15 to 20 minutes and stays off for about an equivalent period of time. But when it’s short cycling, your air conditioner is running on and off in short bursts.

This puts heavy strain on moving parts and vital components including the blower motor. Short cycling or any type of irregular cooling cycles are frequently caused by overheating. The internal chamber gets too hot before safety components switch the AC off. This happens again and again, especially if the real cause 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 sign up for a preventive maintenance agreement. At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we promote several HVAC memberships to accommodate your needs and budget. Faulty wiring, low refrigerant and dirty coils can be uncovered and corrected during routine service.

Sometimes 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 sign up for a membership program or to schedule your repair appointment? Contact us at today!