August 3, 2022
When your home’s air conditioner breaks down, you deserve to get the issue taken care of as soon as possible. However, there can be countless of reasons why your air conditioner isn’t functioning properly. How do you know which one is affecting you? There are a handful of problems that are more common, and determining what they are is handy when your A-PLUS Service Experts Expert is discussing options 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 break down.
1. Thermostat Problems
Your thermostat instructs your AC system when to start and for how long to run. If its settings are wrong, your cooling may not run correctly. And if the batteries ran out in a programmable thermostat, you won’t be able to use it at all. Try this quick checklist to confirm your thermostat is receiving power and operating properly:
- Swap out 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
Dirty or inefficient air filters are known for turning a perfectly functional and effective air conditioner into a slow and inefficient one. In addition, dirty filters will sometimes cause lots of problems, such as decreased airflow, reduced indoor air quality and greater power consumption. They can also make an air conditioning work harder and stop working if the coil freezes.
You can easily avoid AC problems by regularly cleaning or replacing your air filter. How do you know if 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 standard recommendation, make sure you try to replace flat filters every month and pleated filters every three months.
3. Frozen Condenser Coils
Your air conditioner’s coils are essential components because they release heat from your home into the outdoor air. But even during the summer, ice can form on the coils. Frozen coils won’t be able to handle the cooling process as easily, and in some cases sufficient ice can stop the AC from running at all.
Freezing can be connected to different issues, such as:
- Dirty coils caused by a lack of annual maintenance
- Dirty air filters, which obstruct airflow
- Clogged drain line, which can cause moisture buildup
- Refrigerant leaks, which lessen cooling power
If your air conditioner has frozen, shut 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 will blow warm air on the coils without going through a cooling cycle.
It’s recommended to examine your air filter first. If you can’t see light through it, replace it. The other challenges, including dirty coils, a clogged drain line or refrigerant leaks, are best handled with professional assistance.
4. Refrigerant Leak
Your cooling uses refrigerant to relocate heat. When it doesn’t have enough refrigerant, you could notice you’re getting a lot of hot air. Here are a few signs you’re facing a leak:
- Insufficient cold air
- Home feels humid
- Longer than normal cooling cycles
- Frozen evaporator coils
- Dripping or hissing air conditioner sounds
- Sweet smell around the air conditioner
If your air conditioning system was installed prior to 2011, it likely uses Freon® or R-22. This coolant is no longer being made due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. Only recycled quantities are obtainable, which makes refrigerant leaks more expensive to fix.
If your R-22 air conditioner 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 better for the environment.
We understand that replacing your cooling can be an emergency that you aren’t equipped for. Ask us about our Advantage Program™, which gives you a new air conditioner for just one affordable monthly fee. Repairs and maintenance are incorporated, and you’ll get to keep any worthwhile manufacturer’s rebates.
5. Water Leak
Your air conditioning uses a condensate drain line to flush water it strips 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 avoid damage and contact us at 866-397-3787 for support.
6. Tripped Circuit Breaker
There can be a few reasons why your air conditioning system keeps tripping its circuit breaker. Here are a few of the most common ones:
- Dirty air filter is severely restricting airflow.
- Your air conditioner overheated because of inadequate refrigerant.
- Condenser coils are dirty and reducing airflow.
- Condenser fan motor has malfunctioned and coils are overheating.
- Electrical connections are damaged or loose.
- Blower motor is defective.
- Compressor is drawing excess power or wiring is malfunctioning.
- Capacitor responsible for starting the compressor has broken down.
As we mentioned earlier, inspect your air filter first, as that is most likely to be the culprit. Any other problems will have to be addressed by an HVAC pro like A-PLUS Service Experts.
7. Short Cycling
An insufficient cooling cycle can also be part of the problem. Short cycling is an irritating malfunction when the air conditioner shuts off before the desired temperature has reached the entire house. If you suspect your cooling is short cycling, pay attention to how long the air is running before it turns off. Your average air conditioner usually runs for 15 to 20 minutes and stays off for around the same period of time. But when it’s short cycling, your air conditioning is running on and off in small bursts.
This places heavy strain on moving parts and key components like the blower motor. Short cycling or any type of atypical cooling cycles are often a result of overheating. The internal chamber gets too hot and then safety components shut the AC off. This happens over and over, particularly if the root cause of the overheating isn’t resolved.
Trust the Experts for Your Air Conditioning Repair and Maintenance Needs
The best way for you to prevent air conditioning problems is to sign up for a preventive maintenance plan. At A-PLUS Service Experts, we provide several HVAC memberships to suit your needs and budget. Bad wiring, low refrigerant and dirty coils can be discovered and fixed through routine maintenance.
In some cases repairs are inevitable, 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 enroll in a membership program or to arrange your repair appointment? Contact us at 301-747-3140 today!