Common Air Conditioning Problems That Need An AC Repair

An air conditioning system is built with multiple components, and this is why it could develop a variety of problems that can cause performance inefficiencies and breakdowns. This guide focuses on the most common air conditioning problems that need to be repaired.

Filtration System Clogs

The filtration system that's connected to an AC system works around the clock during heating and cooling cycles. As air moves into spaces, a filter capture contaminates that can land on vital air conditioning components. Typically, you'll want to maintain this system before repairs are needed.

You can maintain an air conditioner's filtration system and avoid repairs by changing the filter on time. The total time that it takes for a filter to clog varies. However, in most cases, when light doesn't pass through the mesh, it's time to change the filter.

Malfunctioning Thermostat

Because a thermostat has many circuits, its controls can malfunction if the conditions in a home aren't ideal. All thermostats have buttons, and chips that don't respond well to debris, so if dust builds up on the main hardware, certain heating and cooling modes will operate inefficiently. Direct sunlight can also make a thermostat malfunction by frying chips, wiring, and circuits within a thermostat's housing.

You can eliminate dust on your thermostat with a micro-filter cloth. To shield direct sunlight, hang blinds or curtains on windows where sunlight enters the home.

Refrigerant Leaks

Refrigerant is a powerful liquid that gives an HVAC unit the ability to produce cold air. If refrigerant begins to leak, temperatures will fluctuate throughout every cooling cycle.

Typically, the spot where a leak occurs on a coolant line will influence the repair costs. This is why preventative maintenance is the best solution, and you can prevent coolant leaks by letting an AC technician inspect your HVAC system annually.

Drainage

Drainage lines can develop different types of clogs. If an air conditioning unit is set up around soil, dust and dirt can clog these lines. In some cases, lint could also coat surfaces within drainage lines if it flies around a powerful air conditioning system.

Whenever a drainage line is clogged, the liquid will rise in the drain pan, and over time, water will seep out. "If enough water leaks, it could damage vulnerable AC components," says the Heatwave AC Repair St Petersburg pros.

Faulty Breakers and Fuses

Breakers work hard to protect key air conditioning parts. They always activate whenever there is a power surge that can make an HVAC system overheat. The main parts that fuses and breakers shield from high volts of electricity are the compressor and motor.

All breakers and fuses must be replaced or repaired immediately. If you continue to use an air conditioner while these components are in poor condition, electricity could easily fry the motor and other parts when lightning strikes a power line.

Fuses and breakers for AC conditioning systems have delicate hardware that requires precise repairs. If there are no repair options for breakers and fuses in your area, consider buying replacements instead.

Capacitors Problem

Capacitors can break down if they're not serviced regularly. When a capacitor stops working, the fan and compressor won't function as well. This happens because the capacitors send power to different motors that activate the compressor and fan.

When one of the capacitors malfunctions, you'll notice it immediately after you activate your air conditioner. If the start capacitor doesn't work, it won't blast a jolt of electricity to the motor to activate it. As a result, the run capacitor won't produce more jolts of electricity in order to keep the motor running. If a broken start capacitor or run capacitor isn't replaced or repaired, your air conditioner will function inefficiently or burn out.

Compressor Problem

A compressor problem is very easy to detect since defective hardware always makes low temperatures feel unpleasant. During cooling cycles, a compressor plays one important role, which is to produce energy in the refrigerant. This energy helps propel coolant through coils during the heat exchange. As a result, when a compressor has malfunctioned, an air conditioner will struggle to reduce temperatures in a home.

Compressor maintenance is the best way to enjoy cool air from an air conditioner throughout the spring and summer. To protect a compressor, you'll have to pour enough refrigerant in the coolant lines for cooling cycles. If the refrigerant volume is too low, a compressor will get too hot, and this could make the system seize, and when there is too much refrigerant, the compressor will fail.

Rusty Evaporator Coil

Evaporator coils constantly absorb hot air in the surroundings. Then, they convert the heat into cold air before the currents move through multiple air ducts. Coils can be repaired; however, protecting and preserving them is the most effective strategy.

The big problem that affects coils is corrosion. Once a lot of rust covers this coil, you'll have to replace it because rust makes the housing vulnerable. You can maintain your coils by implementing maintenance procedures every few years.

Condenser Coil Problem

Condenser coils will need repairs or replacements if they're not cleaned regularly. These parts are attached to the compressor on the outside. As a result, dirt can gradually build up the housing consistently. However, you don't have to cleanse condenser coils regularly. Typically, an air conditioning system will continue to function properly if the condenser coils are washed once a year with water from a hose.

In some environments, clusters of dirt will cover condenser coils. If this happens in your yard, you'll need to let an air conditioner technician wash off the debris with a commercial-grade chemical cleanser.

Contactor Issue

Over time, the contactor within an air conditioner system can wear out. The condenser, blower motor, and compressor won't work after a contactor stops functioning because it provides an electrical connection.

A contactor can develop problems that can cause pitting and arcing. Both of these performance issues can impact how effectively electrical currents activate motors in an air conditioner. If you catch contractor problems early, you can repair the part. However, once a contactor completely breaks, you'll have to replace it.