When your air conditioning system is not working properly, your home comfort can be affected along with the costs of your energy bills. Regular air conditioner maintenance is usually helpful in keeping major problems away, but sometimes, A/C problems still occur. Take a look at some of the most common air conditioner problems that you can troubleshoot yourself, before asking for expert help:
- The sensor is not working properly. If you’ve noticed that your air conditioner is starting and stopping erratically, the thermostat sensor might be the problem. The sensor is designed to measure the temperature of the air that reaches the evaporator coil, but if this sensor is not placed accordingly, the measurements are imprecise and may cause the unit to function improperly. Make sure to place the sensor near the coil and carefully adjust its position by slightly bending the wire that keeps it in place.
- The A/C unit isn’t cooling enough. If the unit is not providing as much cool air as it should, there may be a problem with the refrigerant charge or the system’s airflow. Check the evaporator coil, the filter and the blower wheel and remove any dirt that may reduce airflow. If you’ve cleaned these parts and the unit is still not cooling properly, it might need a refrigerant recharge, which can only be performed by an HVAC professional.
- The floor and ceiling registers aren’t running. If there’s no air coming out of the floor or ceiling registers, first check the outside unit. If this unit is also not running, look for a tripped circuit breaker and reset it if necessary. If the breaker isn’t the problem, check the condensate pump. If the pump has a full reservoir or isn’t working, you’ll need to repair or replace it.
If you need help troubleshooting your A/C unit, or you want expert advice on upgrading or replacing your air conditioner, contact us today at Around the Clock Heating and Air Conditioning. Our highly skilled technicians have been solving A/C problems for homeowners in Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley and the surrounding areas since 1967.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about A/C problems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock