We are now in the heart of the summer, and the cooling season is in full swing. Our air conditioning systems are called upon to cool our homes efficiently without failing when we need them the most. But, every year that goes by is another year of service, and an air conditioner is a hard working piece of equipment. Over time, problems related to age begin to develop, and ignoring them is a sure fire way to get a loss in efficiency or a dreaded equipment failure. But, an air conditioner doesn’t usually stop working overnight without some kind of warning signs. In this article, we will look at six major air conditioning repair warnings that you should take seriously.
- A Dirty Air Filter
The most important component to protect your air conditioner is the air filter, and this is the easiest component to keep an eye on. Despite this, many homeowners ignore their air filters for months on end until the AC system fails, and they need to call a local HVAC specialist. The air filter prevents dirt, dust, and debris from entering the air conditioner where it could damage sensitive components. When the air filter is clogged, the airflow is inhibited, and this causes the AC system to work harder in order to compensate. Equipment that is overworked is prone to failure, and the extra energy expended will drive up the energy bills. Make sure you inspect the air filter at least once per month, clean it with clean water and dry it before re-insertion. If you have disposable air filters, simply replace the filter each month for a fresh one.
- A Refrigerant Leak
Many people think that their air conditioner cools down their home, but this is incorrect. The AC system removes heat from the home using the refrigerant as a circulatory system to make the transfer between hot and cold air. But, the refrigerant must be kept under constant pressure in order to work efficiently. iI there is insufficient refrigerant, the pressure drops, and there is a noticeable loss in performance and energy efficiency. An AC system charged with refrigerant can last for a number of years, but a leak will allow the refrigerant to escape and the system must be recharged. Even a tiny pinhole refrigerant leak can lose sufficient refrigerant to affect the AC system performance eventually. Contact a local HVAC specialist and ask them to recharge your AC system refrigerant. Resist the temptation to “save money“ and do this yourself because mixing refrigerants incorrectly will have a negative effect on your AC system.
- Frozen Evaporator Coils
The evaporator coils can be found in your indoor unit, and they lower the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the AC system. If you take a look at the coils and you see ice on the surface, you may think that this is a sure sign that everything is working correctly. But, the exact opposite is true. If you have ice on the coil, it will prevent the effective distribution of cool air in your home. The usual cause of a frozen evaporator coil is a refrigerant leak, so it’s important to get it checked out by a local HVAC professional.
- Dirty Condensor Coils
In the outdoor unit, you can find your condenser coils, and they have the exact opposite task to the indoor condenser coils. The condenser coils are designed to release the heat that has been gathered from inside your home. But, if the coil is dirty, it prevents the efficient dispersal of the heat, and it will be trapped. An evaporator coil that is subjected to heat for too long will become less efficient and prone to failure. Because the condenser coil is located outdoors, it will collect more dirt, dust, and debris over time, and this area needs to be kept clean. Cut back any plants in the area, store the garden furniture somewhere else and keep the outdoor unit clean. Cleaning the outdoor unit and condenser coils is covered with an annual HVAC service visit. This is a great way to get your heating and cooling equipment ready for the season ahead, and it could save you money with lower energy use and fewer repair bills.
- Broken Blower Units
The AC system has a pair of blower units; one takes care of the outdoor unit and the other the indoor unit. They are designed to blow away air that will collect around the evaporator and condenser coils. The indoor blower unit blows the cooler air into your home, and the outdoor blower unit blows hot gathered air outside to avoid overheating. If either of these blower fan units fails, the air that collects in and around these components will cause either overheating (outdoors) or freezing (indoors). As we have shown earlier, freezing and overheating will damage the coils leading to an expensive repair bill or even a replacement.
- The AC System Will Not Turn On
This could be a serious problem, but don’t panic just yet, because there could be a simple solution to try first. The thermostat acts as the brain of your entire HVAC system, and if it’s not working as intended, it may not turn on at all. Check the thermostat batteries and make sure they are working correctly. If the batteries are fine, check that the thermostat is set to the “Auto” setting in cooling mode. This may seem silly, but you may be surprised at the number of times HVAC engineers are called out to a home, and the AC system isn’t even turned on! If the AC system is turned on, take a look at the circuit breaker to see if the AC system has been tripped and reset it if necessary. If the AC system is still not responding, contact your local HVAC specialist for expert assistance.
Ignoring an AC system warning sign is inadvisable because these types of problems only get worse over time. Fixing a minor issue earlier is always preferable to a more extensive and expensive repair later. An annual HVAC health check can detect many problems at an early stage to ensure continued peak performance and improvements in energy efficiency.