August 3, 2022
When your home’s AC system breaks down, you should try to get the problem resolved right away. Annoyingly, there could be dozens of reasons why your cooling isn’t working properly. How do you know which one is affecting you? There are a handful of problems that are more prevalent, and determining what they are is helpful when your Falso Service Experts Expert is discussing available choices for fixing the problem with 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 instructs your air conditioner when to start and for how long to run. If the settings are incorrect, your cooling may not function like it should. And if the batteries ran out in a programmable thermostat, it won't be accessible at all. Follow this short checklist to make sure your thermostat is receiving power and operating properly:
- Replace batteries if the screen is blank (programmable models)
- Make sure your thermostat has power (smart models)
- Confirm 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 infamous for turning a perfectly functional and effective air conditioner into a slow and inefficient one. In fact, dirty filters could cause lots of problems, like reduced airflow, reduced indoor air quality and greater power consumption. They can also make an air conditioning work harder and stop working if the coil ices over.
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 remember the last time you changed them, it’s almost definitely time to. But for a general recommendation, make sure you try to change flat filters each month and pleated filters every three months.
3. Frozen Condenser Coils
Your air conditioner’s coils are important components because they release 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 handle the cooling process as easily, and in severe cases sufficient ice can stop the AC from running at all.
Freezing can be linked to multiple issues, such as:
- Dirty coils caused by insufficient annual maintenance
- Dirty air filters, which restrict airflow
- Clogged drain line, which can cause moisture buildup
- Refrigerant leaks, which reduce cooling power
If your air conditioner is frozen, turn it off and let the ice melt. This could take up to 24 hours, but you can accelerate the process by switching settings to “fan only.” This will blow warm air across the coils without starting a cooling cycle.
It’s smart to examine the air filter first. If you can’t see light through it, change it out. The other issues, like dirty coils, a clogged drain line or refrigerant leaks, are best handled with professional assistance.
4. Refrigerant Leak
Your air conditioner employs refrigerant to transfer heat. When it doesn’t have sufficient refrigerant, you may notice you’re getting a lot of hot air. Here are a couple signs you’re facing a leak:
- Not enough cold air
- Home is humid
- Longer than normal cooling cycles
- Ice forming on the evaporator coils
- Dripping or hissing air conditioner noises
- Sweet smell around the air conditioner
If your air conditioning system was installed prior to 2011, it most likely uses Freon® or R-22. This refrigerant is no longer being made due to its detrimental effects on the ozone layer. Only recycled supplies are accessible, which makes refrigerant leaks more expensive to fix.
If your R-22 AC unit is struggling with a refrigerant leak, we advocate for air conditioning installation due to age and the refrigerant being obsolete. New air conditioners utilize Puron or R-410A, which is more sustainable for the environment.
We realize that replacing your air conditioner can be an emergency that you aren’t equipped for. Ask us about our Advantage Program™, which provides you a new air conditioner for just one reasonable monthly fee. Repairs and maintenance are covered, and you’ll get to keep any valuable manufacturer’s rebates.
5. Water Leak
Your AC unit uses a condensate drain line to flush water it eliminates from the air. If you’ve overlooked 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.
Turn off your air conditioner to prevent damage and get in touch with us at 866-397-3787 for support.
6. Tripped Circuit Breaker
There can be a few reasons why your cooling keeps tripping its circuit breaker. Here are a few of the most prevalent ones:
- Dirty air filter is significantly constraining airflow.
- Your air conditioner is overheating due to insufficient refrigerant.
- Condenser coils are dirty and restraining airflow.
- Condenser fan motor has malfunctioned and coils are overheating.
- Electrical connections are strained or loose.
- Blower motor is defective.
- Compressor is drawing excess power or wiring is malfunctioning.
- Capacitor in charge of starting the compressor has gone out.
Like we mentioned earlier, inspect your air filter first, as that is most commonly the culprit. Any other problems will need to be addressed by an HVAC expert like Falso Service Experts.
7. Short Cycling
An improper cooling cycle can also be part of the problem. Short cycling is an annoying error when the unit shuts off before the set temperature has covered the remainder of the house. If you believe your air conditioner is short cycling, pay attention to how long the air is working before it shuts off. Your standard air conditioner generally runs for 15 to 20 minutes and stays off for around a similar period of time. But when it’s short cycling, your air conditioner is switching on and off in quick bursts.
This places heavy strain on moving parts and key components like the blower motor. Short cycling or any form of abnormal cooling cycles are frequently caused by overheating. The internal chamber gets too hot before safety components turn the AC off. This happens over and over, especially if the source of the overheating isn’t resolved.
Trust the Experts for Your Air Conditioning Repair and Maintenance Needs
The number one way for you to minimize air conditioning problems is to enroll in a preventive maintenance agreement. At Falso 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 tune-ups.
In some cases repairs are inevitable, 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 join a membership program or to schedule your repair appointment? Call us at 315-313-6531 today!