August 3, 2022
When your home’s cooling malfunctions, you deserve to get the issue resolved at the earliest opportunity. However, there could be dozens of reasons why your air conditioner isn’t functioning properly. How do you know which one is affecting you? There are a number of problems that are more widespread, and recognizing what they are is beneficial when your Parker Pearce Service Experts Expert is reviewing routes for solving 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 malfunction.
1. Thermostat Problems
Your thermostat tells your cooling when to start and for how long to run. If its settings are incorrect, your air conditioning may not run like it should. And if the batteries died in a programmable thermostat, it won't be accessible at all. Run through this short checklist to make sure your thermostat is receiving power and operating 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 desired temperature is below the current room temperature
2. Dirty Air Filter
Dirty or inefficient air filters are known for turning a perfectly functional and efficient air conditioner into a slow and inefficient one. What's more, dirty filters can cause lots of problems, like reduced airflow, poorer indoor air quality and excessive power consumption. They can also make an air conditioning work harder and stop working if the coil freezes.
You can easily avoid AC problems by consistently cleaning or replacing the 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 standard guideline, make sure you try to replace flat filters once a 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 easily, and in severe cases sufficient ice can keep the AC from running outright.
Freezing can be related to different issues, like:
- Dirty coils caused by ignoring 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 is frozen, switch 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 will blow warm air on the coils without going through a cooling cycle.
It’s smart to inspect your air filter first. If you can’t see light through it, change it out. The other issues, including dirty coils, a clogged drain line or refrigerant leaks, will require professional assistance.
4. Refrigerant Leak
Your air conditioning system uses refrigerant to relocate heat. When it doesn’t have sufficient refrigerant, you might notice you’re getting a lot of hot air. Here are a couple signs you’re dealing with a leak:
- Insufficient cold air
- Home feels humid
- Longer than normal cooling cycles
- Ice on the evaporator coils
- Bubbling or hissing air conditioner sounds
- Sweet smell close to the air conditioner
If your air conditioner was installed earlier than 2011, it probably uses Freon® or R-22. This coolant is no longer being made as a consequence of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. Only recycled portions of Freon are accessible, which makes refrigerant leaks more costly to fix.
If your R-22 air conditioner has a refrigerant leak, we advocate for air conditioning installation due to age and the refrigerant being obsolete. Modern air conditioners utilize Puron or R-410A, which is more sustainable for the environment.
We realize 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 low monthly fee. Repairs and maintenance are included, and you’ll get to proceed with any useful manufacturer’s rebates.
5. Water Leak
Your air conditioning needs a condensate drain line to flush water it strips from the air. If you’ve skipped air conditioning maintenance, this drain can become plugged up 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 call us at 866-397-3787 for assistance.
6. Tripped Circuit Breaker
There can be a few reasons why your cooling won't stop tripping its circuit breaker. Here are several of the most common ones:
- Dirty air filter is gravely restricting airflow.
- Your air conditioner overheated due to inadequate refrigerant.
- Condenser coils are dirty and restraining airflow.
- Condenser fan motor has broken and coils are overheating.
- Electrical connections are strained or loose.
- Blower motor is malfunctioning.
- Compressor is drawing too much power or wiring is faulty.
- Capacitor in control of starting the compressor has failed.
Like we outlined earlier, inspect your air filter first, as that is most likely to be the culprit. Any other problems should be resolved by an HVAC pro like Parker Pearce Service Experts.
7. Short Cycling
An insufficient cooling cycle can also be part of the problem. Short cycling is an annoying error when the air conditioner shuts down before the expected temperature has covered the remainder of the house. If you think your air conditioner is short cycling, pay attention to how long the air is working before it shuts off. Your standard air conditioner generally runs for 15 to 20 minutes and stays inactive for close to the same period of time. But when it’s short cycling, your air conditioning is switching on and off in small bursts.
This adds heavy strain on moving parts and critical components including the blower motor. Short cycling or any form of atypical cooling cycles are frequently caused by overheating. The internal chamber gets too hot before safety components shut the AC off. This happens again and again, particularly if the real cause of the overheating isn’t dealt with.
Trust the Experts for Your Air Conditioning Repair and Maintenance Needs
The ideal way for you to minimize air conditioning problems is to enroll in a preventive maintenance agreement. At Parker Pearce Service Experts, we promote several HVAC memberships to accommodate your needs and budget. Bad wiring, low refrigerant and dirty coils can be discovered and solved with routine maintenance.
In some cases 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 join a membership program or to schedule your repair appointment? Call us at 301-476-4577 today!