August 3, 2022
When your home’s cooling goes on the fritz, you want to get the problem resolved right away. Annoyingly, there can be dozens 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 prevalent, and recognizing what they are is handy when your Rob's Albertan Service Experts Expert is discussing routes 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 the settings are incorrect, your cooling may not run correctly. And if the batteries died in a programmable thermostat, you'll have to charge the batteries before you can use it. Run through this brief checklist to make sure your thermostat is receiving power and operating properly:
- Swap out batteries if the screen is blank (programmable models)
- Make sure your thermostat has power (smart models)
- Verify that it’s in cooling mode
- Ensure your preferred temperature is below the current room temperature
2. Dirty Air Filter
Old or inefficient air filters are infamous for turning a perfectly functional and effective air conditioner into a slow and inefficient one. What's more, dirty filters will sometimes cause multiple problems, including reduced airflow, poorer indoor air quality and greater power consumption. They can also make your AC unit work harder and stop working if the coil freezes.
You can easily minimize AC problems by regularly cleaning or replacing your air filter. How do you know if you should change the filters? If you can’t think back to the last time you changed them, it’s almost certainly time to. But for a general guideline, make sure you try to replace flat filters every month and pleated filters every three months.
3. Frozen Condenser Coils
Your air conditioner’s coils are crucial components because they release heat from your home into the outdoor air. But even during the summer, ice can form on the coils. Frozen coils won’t be able to regulate the cooling process as easily, and in certain cases enough ice can keep the AC from running entirely.
Freezing can be related to different issues, like:
- Dirty coils caused by ignoring annual maintenance
- Dirty air filters, which reduce airflow
- Clogged drain line, which can result in moisture buildup
- Refrigerant leaks, which lessen cooling power
If your air conditioner freezes, switch it off and let the ice on the coils melt. This will sometimes 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 going through a cooling 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, are best handled with the support of a trained technician.
4. Refrigerant Leak
Your air conditioning system needs refrigerant to relocate heat. When it doesn’t have adequate refrigerant, you might notice you’re getting a lot of hot air. Here are a few signs you’re confronting a leak:
- Inadequate cold air
- Home is humid
- Excessively long cooling cycles
- Ice on the evaporator coils
- Dripping or hissing air conditioner sounds
- Sweet smell around the air conditioner
If your cooling was installed earlier than 2011, it most likely uses Freon® or R-22. This refrigerant is no longer being produced due to its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Only recycled portions of Freon are accessible, which makes refrigerant leaks more costly to correct.
If your R-22 AC unit is dealing with a refrigerant leak, we recommend air conditioning installation due to age and the refrigerant being obsolete. New air conditioners use 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 offers you a new air conditioner for just one reasonable monthly fee. Repairs and maintenance are covered, and you’ll get to retain any valuable manufacturer’s rebates.
5. Water Leak
Your air conditioner uses a condensate drain line to flush water it strips from the air. If you’ve skipped air conditioning maintenance, this drain can become blocked with mold and cause water to back up. If this happens, you’ll notice water leaking.
Switch off your air conditioner to avoid damage and contact us at 866-397-3787 for help.
6. Tripped Circuit Breaker
There can be a number of reasons why your air conditioner won't stop tripping its circuit breaker. Here are some of the most widespread ones:
- Dirty air filter is significantly limiting airflow.
- Your cooling is overheating due to insufficient refrigerant.
- Condenser coils are dirty and restricting airflow.
- Condenser fan motor has broken and coils are overheating.
- Electrical connections are strained or loose.
- Blower motor is defective.
- Compressor is drawing excess power or wiring is malfunctioning.
- Capacitor in control of starting the compressor has failed.
As we outlined earlier, inspect your air filter first, as that is most often the culprit. Any other problems will have to be taken care of by an HVAC expert like Rob's Albertan Service Experts.
7. Short Cycling
An insufficient cooling cycle can also cause problems. Short cycling is a frustrating malfunction when the air conditioner turns off before the expected temperature has covered the rest of the house. If you suspect your cooling is short cycling, watch how long the air is running before it shuts off. Your ordinary 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 cooling is turning on and off in small bursts.
This adds heavy strain on moving parts and critical components like the blower motor. Short cycling or any type of irregular cooling cycles are often a consequence of overheating. The internal chamber gets too hot and then safety components turn the AC off. This happens over and over, particularly if the real cause of the overheating isn’t resolved.
Trust the Experts for Your Air Conditioning Repair and Maintenance Needs
The best way for you to prevent air conditioning problems is to participate in a preventive maintenance plan. At Rob's Albertan Service Experts, we provide several HVAC memberships to suit your needs and budget. Faulty wiring, low refrigerant and dirty coils can be discovered and solved with routine tune-ups.
Occasionally 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? Contact us at 780-800-9047 today!