Although there are potentially hundreds of reasons why your Kansas City home’s central air conditioner may need to be repaired, there are several reasons that are most common. Recognizing what they are may create some personal understanding what a technician is saying when they discuss the choices for correcting the problem. Here are the top 5 list of problems that may cause your AC unit to fail. Review the Top 5 list below and if any of these scenarios exist in your home, please schedule an HVAC inspection.
- Bad AC wiring
Improper, haphazard or uncertified A/C wiring is dangerous and a probable fire hazard. Bad wiring may stop the system from getting power or can short the circuit breaker.
- Your Air Conditioner is Leaking refrigerant
Refrigerant (typically referred to as Freon) is the chemical that cools the air within your air conditioning system. Low refrigerant usually will suggest a leak or problem with the refrigerant system. If your air conditioning system needs to be recharged with refrigerant, usually that means there is a leak. All refrigerant leaks should be located and repaired. To read about the phase out of R-22 refrigerant in the United States, we highly recommend you to visit the U.S. EPA website.
- Outside AC fan is not turning
The outside fan is responsible for moving the heat from your Kansas City home to the outside air. If the fan on the outside unit doesn’t perform correctly, proper heat transfer does not occur and the air conditioning compressor may overheat and trip the safety overload. The consequence of this action could result in internal damage to the compressor.
- Outside air conditioner unit not functional
This typically indicates a significant reduction of power, contactor problems or even a bad thermostat.
- Frozen inside coil
A frozen coil typically indicates an issue with the airflow, such as restrictions caused by dirty air filters or obstructed return air ductwork. Frozen indoor coils could also be caused by low refrigerant.
Best practices suggest that the most convenient way for a Kansas City area homeowner to prevent these expected problems is by participating in a preventive maintenance program. Bad wiring, low refrigerant and airflow problems can be detected during routine maintenance tune-ups. For all these common issues, a professionally qualified, NATE-certified technician can promptly diagnose the problem area and implement the necessary repairs. Call or contact us today for an evaluation!