Common Air Conditioner Problems – What You Can Fix and When To Call A Pro

Summer is here; you need your air conditioning to function smoothly to avoid hot days and long sleepless nights. It’s an experience you wouldn’t like you and your family to go through.

Therefore it’s essential to keep regular maintenance of your air conditioner with reputable AC professionals to enjoy a comfortable summer.

While regular maintenance will ward off many AC issues, an occasional issue may arise with your air conditioning unit. That’s why it’s essential to learn about common AC issues you can repair on your own to avoid huge repair costs, as mentioned at http://airwegoac.com/

Here are some common air conditioning problems and their possible solutions

Dirty filters

Dirty air filters will significantly impede the operation of your air conditioner.

The filters collect dirt and debris before they get into the AC unit and removes impurities from the air you breathe. A dirty filter will prevent airflow or, in some cases, cause blockage making your AC system freeze.

Instead of hiring an AC professional, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on filter cleaning and replacement. Replace your filters every four to six weeks. As long as your air conditioner is safely accessible, there is no reason you can’t fix it yourself.

If you have a dirty filter, visit your local hardware store for a replacement. To get the right filter for your system, you need the filter dimensions which are found on your existing AC filter.

Thermostat problems

If your air conditioner is not turning on, you can avoid hiring an AC professional by checking your thermostat. This will help you avoid repair expenses associated with a visit from a professional.

Perhaps your AC thermostat has been unintentionally turned off or put to an incorrect setting. If neither of these happened, make sure your thermostat is clean and on the right level.

If you have the traditional dial-type thermostat, the problem could be incorrect calibration. Fix this problem quickly by recalibrating your thermostat.

If you find you are recalibrating your thermostat frequently, consider replacing it with a digital thermostat.

Clogged drains

Your AC system removes a lot of moisture from the air. This moisture is to be removed by the drain line into a drain pan and finally down a gutter. If your AC unit is leaking, the drain pipe might be blocked.

Clogging is caused by algae, dirt, and dust, which buildup on the drainpipe, causing air conditioner problems. If the drainpipe overfills, it will damage your AC unit, ceiling, and walls. Therefore it is essential to check your drain pipe regularly.

If you don’t want to hire a professional to fix this, check your drain pipes regularly for leaks. Use a bleach solution to terminate accumulated algae or mold growth. If this does not fix it, consider calling a professional AC repair service.

Refrigerant Levels and Leaks

The refrigerant is the substance in your AC unit, which gets rid of humidity and heat from the air. If your air conditioner has leakages in the refrigerant lines, you will end up with inadequate refrigerant to efficiently cool your air.

Fixing refrigerant leaks has to be done by a professional AC contractor. The AC professional needs to identify the location of the leaks and fix holes in the refrigerant lines.

This can sometimes be an expensive and time-consuming process, especially if your air conditioner has several leaks.

Talk to your AC repair professional about yearly AC maintenance services that cover refrigerant leaks.

Electrical and Wiring Issues

If your air conditioner has stopped cooling air, this may be caused by an electrical problem. Fix this by checking the breaker box and turning the tripped switch back on. If a simple voltage spike caused this, your air conditioner would be back running.

If your air conditioner breaker continues shutting down, it may be a problem with the wiring. This may be caused by frayed wires, which make your breaker trip immediately.

The AC unit starts running. To fix your wiring problems, consult your AC repair contractor to replace any broken wires in your AC system.

Fan Problems

Your air conditioner has two fans; indoor fan and outdoor fan. The indoor fan blows air over the evaporator coil of your AC to cool it. Meanwhile, the outdoor fan blows air over the condenser unit to remove absorbed heat outside your home.

If the indoor AC fan is not working, make sure your AC breaker is not tripped. Either it is okay, proceed, and check the air filters. If the air filters are blocked, fix this by cleaning them.

If it isn’t working still, your evaporator coil may be frozen, and therefore you should call a professional to fix this.

If your outdoor fan is not working, this may be caused by the fan’s start capacitor not working. Try fixing this by pushing the fan blades with a stick. If it does not start, contact an AC technician to fix this.

Leaking Ducts

The ductwork of your air conditioner runs through your walls, carrying cooled air from the air conditioner throughout your home. However, if there are leaks in your ductwork, the cooled air will end up inside your walls, thus not benefiting your home.

Leaking ducts will make your AC unit overwork, thus driving up your energy bill.

Fix this by first turning off your air conditioner to locate the leaks. Proceed to seal the leaks by applying special metallic foil tape over the gaps in the ducts. Finally, use a brush to apply duct mastic on top of the tape to make the seal effective.

Frozen Evaporator Coils

If your air conditioner’s evaporator coil filled with refrigerant. When there is no airflow in the AC unit, a layer of ice will buildup on the evaporator coil. Try cleaning your evaporator coil with a solution of warm water and detergent. If this does not work, contact an AC repair technician.

Dirty Condenser Coils

The condenser coils are located outside your home and are responsible for releasing heat from your home.

The condenser coil will not work correctly when it is covered with dirt. Fix this by cleaning your condenser coils twice a year. If your condenser coils are heavily soiled, hire an air conditioner repair professional who will clean them using a chemical solution.

After you fix your AC unit, make it a point to have a local professional AC technician visit your home annually for a maintenance checkup. With periodic repair and maintenance, your AC unit will last longer, operate more efficiently, and save you money on energy costs.

from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/house-and-home/common-air-conditioner-problems-what-you-can-fix-and-when-to-call-a-pro/