August 3, 2022
When your home’s air conditioner malfunctions, you should try to get the problem dealt with at the earliest opportunity. Annoyingly, there can be dozens of reasons why your AC unit isn’t functioning properly. How do you know which one is causing trouble? There are a handful of problems that are more prevalent, and determining what they are is beneficial when your Neal Harris Service Experts Expert is discussing available choices 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 stop working.
1. Thermostat Problems
Your thermostat tells your air conditioner when to start and for how long to run. If its settings are incorrect, your air conditioner might not function like it should. And if the batteries died in a programmable thermostat, it won't be accessible at all. Follow this short checklist to confirm 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)
- Confirm that it’s currently on cooling mode
- Ensure your set temperature is below the current room temperature
2. Dirty Air Filter
Dirty or inefficient air filters are notorious for turning a perfectly functional and efficient air conditioner into a slow and inefficient one. What's more, dirty filters can cause lots of problems, including weaker airflow, poorer 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 minimize 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 rule of thumb, make sure you try to exchange 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 summer, ice can form on the coils. Frozen coils won’t be able to manage the cooling process as easily, and in certain cases sufficient ice can block the AC from running outright.
Freezing can be related to multiple issues, including:
- Dirty coils caused by ignoring annual maintenance
- Dirty air filters, which restrict airflow
- Clogged drain line, which can result in moisture buildup
- Refrigerant leaks, which lessen cooling power
If your air conditioner freezes, turn it off and let the coils thaw. This can take up to 24 hours, but you can accelerate the process by switching settings to “fan only.” This should blow warm air on the coils without starting a refrigeration cycle.
It’s a good idea to check your 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, will need professional assistance.
4. Refrigerant Leak
Your cooling uses refrigerant to relocate heat. When it doesn’t have sufficient refrigerant, you may notice you’re getting a lot of hot air. Here are some signs you’re facing a leak:
- Not enough cold air
- Home seems humid
- Longer than normal cooling cycles
- Frozen evaporator coils
- Bubbling or hissing air conditioner noises
- Sweet smell near the air conditioner
If your cooling was installed prior to 2011, it most likely uses Freon® or R-22. This coolant is no longer being made due to its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Only recycled portions of Freon are obtainable, which makes refrigerant leaks more expensive to repair.
If your R-22 AC unit has a refrigerant leak, we advocate for air conditioning installation due to age and the refrigerant being obsolete. Modern air conditioners use Puron or R-410A, which is better for the environment.
We recognize that replacing your cooling can be an emergency that you aren’t ready for. Ask us about our Advantage Program™, which provides you a new air conditioner for just one affordable monthly fee. Repairs and maintenance are included, and you’ll get to proceed with any worthwhile manufacturer’s rebates.
5. Water Leak
Your air conditioning needs a condensate drain line to flush water it eliminates from the air. If you’ve skipped air conditioning maintenance, this drain can become plugged up with mold and cause water to stay in the drain line. If this happens, you’ll notice water leaking.
Shut off your air conditioner to avoid damage and get in touch with us at 866-397-3787 for help.
6. Tripped Circuit Breaker
There can be a few reasons why your air conditioning system keeps tripping its circuit breaker. Here are some of the most widespread ones:
- Dirty air filter is significantly restricting airflow.
- Your cooling overheated caused by insufficient refrigerant.
- Condenser coils are dirty and restricting airflow.
- Condenser fan motor has malfunctioned and coils are overheating.
- Electrical connections are strained or loose.
- Blower motor is malfunctioning.
- Compressor is drawing too much power or wiring is defective.
- Capacitor responsible for starting the compressor has gone out.
Like we discussed earlier, inspect your air filter first, as that is most often the culprit. Any other problems should be addressed by an HVAC pro like Neal Harris Service Experts.
7. Short Cycling
An improper cooling cycle can also cause problems. Short cycling is an annoying issue when the air conditioner turns off before the set temperature has made its way through the rest of the house. If you think your cooling is short cycling, watch how long the air is running before it switches off. Your ordinary air conditioner typically runs for 15 to 20 minutes and stays inactive for around an equivalent 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 critical components like the blower motor. Short cycling or any form of irregular cooling cycles are frequently caused by overheating. The internal chamber gets too hot and then safety components switch the AC off. This happens over and over, particularly if the real cause 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 agreement. At Neal Harris Service Experts, we offer several HVAC memberships to suit your needs and budget. Bad wiring, low refrigerant and dirty coils can be found and solved with routine tune-ups.
Sometimes repairs are unavoidable, 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 join a membership program or to request your repair appointment? Call us at 816-787-0500 today!