August 3, 2022
When your home’s cooling breaks down, you should try to get the situation resolved right away. However, there may be hundreds of reasons why your cooling isn’t working properly. How do you know which one is causing trouble? There are a few problems that are more prevalent, and identifying what they are is handy when your A1 Chesney 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 cooling system to stop working.
1. Thermostat Problems
Your thermostat instructs your air conditioner when to start and for how long to run. If the settings are wrong, your air conditioning may not run properly. And if the batteries have died in a programmable thermostat, you won’t be able to use it at all. Follow this quick checklist to make sure your thermostat is receiving power and operating properly:
- Change 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 desired temperature is below the current room temperature
2. Dirty Air Filter
Old or inefficient air filters are infamous for turning a perfectly functional and reliable air conditioner into a slow and inefficient one. In fact, dirty filters will sometimes cause a number of problems, including weaker airflow, lower indoor air quality and higher power consumption. They can also make your air conditioner work harder and stop working if the coil freezes.
You can easily reduce the risk of AC problems by routinely cleaning or replacing the 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 definitely time to. But for a basic rule of thumb, make sure you try to replace flat filters each month and pleated filters every three months.
3. Frozen Condenser Coils
Your air conditioner’s coils are essential components because they emit heat from your home into the outdoor air. But even during the summer, ice can build up on the coils. Frozen coils won’t be able to regulate the cooling process as smoothly, and in some cases enough ice can keep the AC from running at all.
Freezing can be linked to different issues, such as:
- Dirty coils caused by ignoring annual maintenance
- Dirty air filters, which reduce airflow
- Clogged drain line, which can cause 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 speed up the process by switching settings to “fan only.” This blows warm air across the coils without beginning a refrigeration cycle.
It’s recommended to examine your air filter first. If you can’t see light through it, change it. The other challenges, like dirty coils, a clogged drain line or refrigerant leaks, are best handled with professional help.
4. Refrigerant Leak
Your air conditioner needs refrigerant to transfer heat. When it doesn’t have adequate refrigerant, you may notice you’re getting a lot of hot air. Here are a few signs you’re dealing with a leak:
- Insufficient cold air
- Home is humid
- Extended cooling cycles
- Ice on the evaporator coils
- Bubbling or hissing air conditioner noises
- Sweet smell nearby the air conditioner
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2011, it likely uses Freon® or R-22. This refrigerant is no longer being made due to its detrimental effects on the ozone layer. Only recycled portions of Freon are accessible, which makes refrigerant leaks more costly to repair.
If your R-22 air conditioner is dealing with a refrigerant leak, we advocate for air conditioning installation due to age and the refrigerant being obsolete. Newer air conditioners use Puron or R-410A, which is more sustainable for the environment.
We recognize that replacing your cooling can be an emergency that you aren’t equipped for. Ask us about our Advantage Program™, which offers you a new air conditioner for just one reasonable 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 removes 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 minimize damage and contact us at 866-397-3787 for assistance.
6. Tripped Circuit Breaker
There can be a number of reasons why your cooling keeps tripping its circuit breaker. Here are several of the most widespread ones:
- Dirty air filter is significantly limiting airflow.
- Your cooling overheated because of a lack of refrigerant.
- Condenser coils are dirty and reducing airflow.
- Condenser fan motor has broken and coils are overheating.
- Electrical connections are damaged or loose.
- Blower motor is malfunctioning.
- Compressor is drawing too much power or wiring is defective.
- Capacitor responsible for starting the compressor has broken down.
Like we outlined earlier, inspect your air filter first, as that is most commonly the culprit. Any other problems should be addressed by an HVAC pro like A1 Chesney Service Experts.
7. Short Cycling
An insufficient cooling cycle can also be part of the problem. Short cycling is an annoying malfunction when the system turns off before the desired temperature has made its way through the rest of the house. If you believe your air conditioner is short cycling, watch how long the air is on before it shuts off. Your ordinary air conditioner usually runs for 15 to 20 minutes and stays inactive for about a similar period of time. But when it’s short cycling, your air conditioner is turning on and off in short bursts.
This adds heavy strain on moving parts and key components such as the blower motor. Short cycling or any form of abnormal cooling cycles are frequently caused by overheating. The internal chamber gets too hot and then safety components turn the AC off. This happens over and over, namely if the source of the overheating isn’t addressed.
Trust the Experts for Your Air Conditioning Repair and Maintenance Needs
The ideal way for you to prevent air conditioning problems is to enroll in a preventive maintenance plan. At A1 Chesney Service Experts, we provide several HVAC memberships to fit your needs and budget. Faulty wiring, low refrigerant and dirty coils can be found and corrected during routine service.
Sometimes repairs are inevitable, but as a maintenance member, you’ll benefit from 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 schedule your repair appointment? Call us at 587-315-5271 today!