August 3, 2022
When your home’s AC system breaks down, you want to get the situation resolved at the earliest opportunity. Annoyingly, there can be hundreds of reasons why your cooling isn’t functioning properly. How do you know which one is affecting you? There are a few problems that are more common, and identifying what they are is beneficial when your Comfort Masters Service Experts Expert is reviewing routes for resolving the problem through air conditioning repair in North America.
ere are the top six common air conditioner problems that can cause your air conditioner to break down.
1. Thermostat Problems
Your thermostat tells your AC system when to start and for how long to run. If the thermostat settings are incorrect, your air conditioner may not function properly. And if the batteries ran out in a programmable thermostat, you won’t be able to use it at all. Try this brief checklist to make sure your thermostat is receiving power and functioning properly:
- Swap out 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 preferred temperature is below the current room temperature
2. Dirty Air Filter
Dirty or inefficient air filters are notorious for turning a perfectly functional and effective air conditioner into a slow and inefficient one. In fact, dirty filters could cause multiple problems, including weaker airflow, lower indoor air quality and excessive power consumption. They can also make the AC unit work harder and stop working if the coil freezes.
You can easily reduce the risk of AC problems by routinely cleaning or replacing your air filter. How do you know whether you should change your filters? If you can’t recall the last time you changed them, it’s almost definitely time to. But for a standard guideline, 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 crucial components because they emit heat from your home into the outdoor air. But even during the summer, ice can develop on the coils. Frozen coils won’t be able to handle the cooling process as easily, and in certain cases enough ice can keep the AC from running outright.
Freezing can be connected to multiple issues, such as:
- Dirty coils caused by insufficient annual maintenance
- Dirty air filters, which restrict airflow
- Clogged drain line, which can result in moisture buildup
- Refrigerant leaks, which decrease cooling power
If your air conditioner is frozen, turn it off and let the ice on the coils melt. This could take up to 24 hours, but you can accelerate the process by switching settings to “fan only.” This should blow warm air over the coils without starting a refrigeration cycle.
It’s smart to inspect your air filter first. If you can’t see light through it, replace it. The other problems, such as dirty coils, a clogged drain line or refrigerant leaks, will require professional assistance.
4. Refrigerant Leak
Your cooling employs 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 couple signs you’re facing a leak:
- Inadequate cold air
- Home feels humid
- Excessively long cooling cycles
- Ice on the evaporator coils
- Bubbling or hissing air conditioner noises
- Sweet smell near the air conditioner
If your cooling was installed before 2011, it likely uses Freon® or R-22. This coolant is no longer being made as a consequence of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Only recycled quantities are available, which makes refrigerant leaks more expensive to fix.
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 prepared for. Ask us about our Advantage Program™, which gives you a new air conditioner for just one affordable monthly fee. Repairs and maintenance are covered, and you’ll get to retain any worthwhile manufacturer’s rebates.
5. Water Leak
Your air conditioning needs a condensate drain line to flush water it strips from the air. If you’ve avoided air conditioning maintenance, this drain can become blocked with mold and cause water to back up. If this happens, you’ll notice water leaking.
Shut off your air conditioner to prevent damage and contact 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 several of the most common ones:
- Dirty air filter is severely limiting airflow.
- Your air conditioning system is running too hot caused by insufficient refrigerant.
- Condenser coils are dirty and reducing airflow.
- Condenser fan motor has broken and coils are overheating.
- Electrical connections are worn or loose.
- Blower motor is defective.
- Compressor is drawing excess power or wiring is defective.
- Capacitor in control of starting the compressor has broken down.
As we outlined earlier, examine your air filter first, as that is most likely to be the culprit. Any other problems will have to be resolved by an HVAC professional like Comfort Masters Service Experts.
7. Short Cycling
A faulty cooling cycle can also be responsible. Short cycling is an irritating issue when the unit turns off before the expected temperature has covered the remainder of the house. If you think your cooling is short cycling, pay attention to how long the air is working before it switches off. Your ordinary air conditioner generally runs for 15 to 20 minutes and stays off for about the same period of time. But when it’s short cycling, your air conditioning is running on and off in quick bursts.
This places heavy strain on moving parts and vital components like the blower motor. Short cycling or any kind of abnormal cooling cycles are frequently a result of overheating. The internal chamber gets too hot before safety components switch the AC off. This happens repeatedly, particularly 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 prevent air conditioning problems is to enroll in a preventive maintenance program. At Comfort Masters Service Experts, we provide several HVAC memberships to suit your needs and budget. Faulty wiring, low refrigerant and dirty coils can be found and corrected through routine tune-ups.
Sometimes repairs are inescapable, 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 enroll in a membership program or to request your repair appointment? Call us at 847-250-6729 today!