August 3, 2022
When your home’s air conditioner breaks down, you want to get the problem taken care of as soon as possible. Unfortunately, there could be hundreds of reasons why your cooling isn’t functioning properly. How do you know which one is impacting you? There are a few problems that are more widespread, and recognizing what they are is helpful when your Church Services Expert is discussing routes for resolving 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 stop working.
1. Thermostat Problems
Your thermostat instructs your AC system when to start and for how long to run. If the settings are wrong, your air conditioner may not function correctly. And if the batteries have died in a programmable thermostat, it won't be accessible at all. Follow this brief checklist to make sure your thermostat is receiving power and working 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 set temperature is below the current room temperature
2. Dirty Air Filter
Dirty or inefficient air filters are infamous for turning a perfectly functional and efficient air conditioner into a slow and inefficient one. In fact, dirty filters will sometimes cause lots of problems, like decreased airflow, poorer indoor air quality and excessive power use. They can also make your AC unit work harder and stop working if the coil freezes.
You can easily minimize AC problems by routinely cleaning or replacing the air filter. How do you know if you should change your filters? If you can’t think back to the last time you changed them, it’s almost surely time to. But for a standard rule of thumb, make sure you try to exchange flat filters every month and pleated filters every three months.
3. Frozen Condenser Coils
Your air conditioner’s coils are important components because they discharge heat from your home into the outdoor air. But even in the summer, ice can develop on the coils. Frozen coils won’t be able to manage the cooling process as easily, and in some cases the ice can keep the AC from running outright.
Freezing can be linked to several issues, such as:
- Dirty coils caused by a lack of annual maintenance
- Dirty air filters, which obstruct airflow
- Clogged drain line, which can cause moisture buildup
- Refrigerant leaks, which reduce cooling power
If your air conditioner has frozen, shut it off and let the coils thaw. This will sometimes take up to 24 hours, but you can speed up the process by switching settings to “fan only.” This should blow 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. The other problems, like dirty coils, a clogged drain line or refrigerant leaks, will need professional assistance.
4. Refrigerant Leak
Your air conditioning system needs refrigerant to convert heat. When it doesn’t have adequate refrigerant, you might 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
- Dripping or hissing air conditioner noises
- Sweet smell nearby the air conditioner
If your cooling was installed earlier than 2011, it probably uses Freon® or R-22. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured due to its detrimental effects on the ozone layer. Only recycled portions of Freon are obtainable, which makes refrigerant leaks more expensive to fix.
If your R-22 air conditioning system has a refrigerant leak, we suggest air conditioning installation due to age and the refrigerant being obsolete. Newer air conditioners utilize Puron or R-410A, which is more sustainable for the environment.
We realize 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 low monthly fee. Repairs and maintenance are incorporated, and you’ll get to proceed with any worthwhile manufacturer’s rebates.
5. Water Leak
Your air conditioning uses a condensate drain line to flush water it removes 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 minimize damage and contact us at 866-397-3787 for support.
6. Tripped Circuit Breaker
There can be a number of reasons why your air conditioning system is repeatedly tripping its circuit breaker. Here are several of the most common ones:
- Dirty air filter is gravely limiting airflow.
- Your air conditioning system is overheating caused by a lack of refrigerant.
- Condenser coils are dirty and reducing airflow.
- Condenser fan motor has malfunctioned and coils are overheating.
- Electrical connections are worn or loose.
- Blower motor is faulty.
- Compressor is drawing excess power or wiring is defective.
- Capacitor in control of starting the compressor has failed.
As we discussed earlier, inspect your air filter first, as that is most likely to be the culprit. Any other problems will need to be addressed by an HVAC professional like Church Services.
7. Short Cycling
A faulty cooling cycle can also be responsible. Short cycling is a frustrating malfunction when the air conditioner turns off before the desired temperature has covered the remainder of the house. If you suspect your air conditioner is short cycling, watch how long the air is active before it switches off. Your average air conditioner usually runs for 15 to 20 minutes and stays off for about an equivalent period of time. But when it’s short cycling, your air conditioning is switching on and off in quick bursts.
This adds heavy strain on moving parts and critical components such as the blower motor. Short cycling or any form of abnormal cooling cycles are frequently a result of overheating. The internal chamber gets too hot before safety components switch the AC off. This happens again and again, particularly if the root cause of the overheating isn’t addressed.
Trust the Experts for Your Air Conditioning Repair and Maintenance Needs
The best way for you to prevent air conditioning problems is to enroll in a preventive maintenance plan. At Church Services, we provide several HVAC memberships to accommodate your needs and budget. Faulty wiring, low refrigerant and dirty coils can be found and fixed through routine tune-ups.
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 sign up for a membership program or to request your repair appointment? Call us at 713-396-3760 today!