Seven Most Common AC Problems and How to Fix Them

When your home’s air conditioner goes on the fritz, you should try to get the issue taken care of right away. However, there may be hundreds of reasons why your air conditioner isn’t working properly. How do you know which one is affecting you? There are a handful of problems that are more widespread, and recognizing what they are is helpful when your Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing Expert is going over available choices for resolving the problem with air conditioning repair in North America.

Here are the top six common air conditioner problems that can cause your air conditioning to break down.

1. Thermostat Problems

Your thermostat tells your cooling when to start and for how long to run. If the thermostat settings are incorrect, your cooling might not run properly. And if the batteries ran out in a programmable thermostat, it won’t be accessible at all. Run through this short checklist to confirm your thermostat is receiving power and working properly:

• • Replace batteries if the screen is blank (programmable models)

• • Make sure your thermostat has power (smart models)

• • Verify 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 known for turning a perfectly functional and reliable air conditioner into a slow and inefficient one. In addition, dirty filters will sometimes cause lots of problems, like weaker airflow, poorer indoor air quality and excessive power usage. They can also make your air conditioner work harder and stop working if the coil freezes up.

You can easily minimize AC problems by consistently cleaning or replacing the air filter. How do you know when you should change the 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 change 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 in the summer, ice can form on the coils. Frozen coils won’t be able to handle the cooling process as smoothly, and in certain cases enough ice can block the AC from running entirely.

Freezing can be linked to different issues, such as:

• • Dirty coils caused by a lack of annual maintenance

• • Dirty air filters, which reduce airflow

• • Clogged drain line, which can trigger moisture buildup

• • Refrigerant leaks, which lessen cooling power

If your air conditioner is frozen, switch it off and let the coils thaw. This can take up to 24 hours, but you can quicken the process by switching settings to “fan only.” This blows warm air on the coils without starting a refrigeration cycle.

It’s recommended to examine your air filter first. If you can’t see light through it, change it out. The other problems, such as dirty coils, a clogged drain line or refrigerant leaks, will need professional assistance.

4. Refrigerant Leak

Your cooling uses 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 few signs you’re facing a leak:

• • Inadequate cold air

• • Home feels humid

• • Longer than normal cooling cycles

• • Ice forming on the evaporator coils

• • Dripping or hissing air conditioner sounds

• • Sweet smell near the air conditioner

If your air conditioning system was installed earlier than 2011, it likely uses Freon® or R-22. This refrigerant is no longer being made as a consequence of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. Only recycled supplies are obtainable, which makes refrigerant leaks more costly to repair.

If your R-22 air conditioner is struggling with a refrigerant leak, we recommend air conditioning installation due to age and the refrigerant being obsolete. Newer air conditioners employ Puron or R-410A, which is more sustainable for the environment.

We understand that replacing your air conditioner can be an emergency that you aren’t equipped for. Ask us about our Advantage Program™, which gives you a new air conditioner for just one low monthly fee. Repairs and maintenance are incorporated, and you’ll get to retain any useful manufacturer’s rebates.

5. Water Leak

Your AC unit 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 back up. 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 couple of reasons why your air conditioning system keeps tripping its circuit breaker. Here are several of the most common ones:

• • Dirty air filter is severely limiting airflow.

• • Your air conditioner overheated because of a lack of refrigerant.

• • Condenser coils are dirty and restricting airflow.

• • Condenser fan motor has failed and coils are overheating.

• • Electrical connections are worn or loose.

• • Blower motor is faulty.

• • Compressor is drawing too much power or wiring is faulty.

• • Capacitor in control of starting the compressor has broken down.

Like we mentioned earlier, examine your air filter first, as that is most likely to be the culprit. Any other problems should be addressed by an HVAC professional like Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.

7. Short Cycling

A faulty cooling cycle can also cause problems. Short cycling is an irritating error when the system turns off before the desired temperature has reached the entire house. If you think your air conditioner is short cycling, watch how long the air is running before it turns off. Your ordinary air conditioner generally runs for 15 to 20 minutes and stays inactive for about a similar period of time. But when it’s short cycling, your air conditioning is running on and off in short bursts.

This places heavy strain on moving parts and vital components like the blower motor. Short cycling or any form of irregular cooling cycles are often a consequence of overheating. The internal chamber gets too hot and then safety components shut the AC off. This happens repeatedly, particularly if the root cause of the overheating isn’t resolved.

Trust the Experts for Your Air Conditioning Repair and Maintenance Needs

The ideal way for you to prevent air conditioning problems is to sign up for a preventive maintenance plan. At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we provide several HVAC memberships to suit your needs and budget. Inferior wiring, low refrigerant and dirty coils can be found and fixed with routine service.

Occasionally repairs are unavoidable, 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 sign up for a membership program or to schedule your repair appointment? Call us at today!