August 3, 2022
When your home’s air conditioner malfunctions, you deserve to get the issue dealt with at the earliest opportunity. However, there could be dozens of reasons why your AC unit isn’t functioning properly. How do you know which one is impacting you? There are a number of problems that are more widespread, and recognizing what they are is handy when your Stark Services Expert is going over options for fixing the problem through air conditioning repair in North America.
ere are the top six common air conditioner problems that can cause your air conditioning to malfunction.
1. Thermostat Problems
Your thermostat tells your AC system when to start and for how long to run. If the thermostat settings are wrong, your cooling might not work like it should. And if the batteries have died in a programmable thermostat, you won’t be able to use it at all. Try this brief checklist to ensure your thermostat is receiving power and operating properly:
- Replace batteries if the screen is blank (programmable models)
- Make sure your thermostat has power (smart models)
- Confirm that it’s switched to 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 reliable air conditioner into a slow and inefficient one. In fact, dirty filters will sometimes cause a number of problems, such as weaker airflow, reduced indoor air quality and higher power usage. They can also make the AC unit work harder and stop working if the coil freezes.
You can easily minimize AC problems by consistently cleaning or replacing the air filter. How do you know if you should change the filters? If you can’t recall the last time you changed them, it’s almost definitely time to. But for a general rule of thumb, make sure you try to change flat filters every month and pleated filters every three months.
3. Frozen Condenser Coils
Your air conditioner’s coils are crucial components because they discharge heat from your home into the outdoor air. But even during the summer, ice can develop on the coils. Frozen coils won’t be able to manage the cooling process as easily, and in certain cases the ice can block the AC from running outright.
Freezing can be related to different issues, including:
- Dirty coils caused by insufficient annual maintenance
- Dirty air filters, which restrict airflow
- Clogged drain line, which can trigger moisture buildup
- Refrigerant leaks, which reduce cooling power
If your air conditioner is frozen, switch it off and let the ice on the coils melt. This could take up to 24 hours, but you can accelerate the process by switching settings to “fan only.” This should blow warm air over the coils without going through a cooling cycle.
It’s smart to examine the air filter first. If you can’t see light through it, replace it. The other challenges, like dirty coils, a clogged drain line or refrigerant leaks, will need professional help.
4. Refrigerant Leak
Your air conditioning system employs refrigerant to transfer heat. When it doesn’t have enough refrigerant, you could notice you’re getting a lot of hot air. Here are a couple signs you’re dealing with a leak:
- Not enough cold air
- Home seems humid
- Excessively long cooling cycles
- Ice on the evaporator coils
- Dripping or hissing air conditioner sounds
- Sweet smell close to the air conditioner
If your cooling was installed before 2011, it probably uses Freon® or R-22. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. Only recycled portions of Freon are available, which makes refrigerant leaks more expensive to repair.
If your R-22 air conditioner has a refrigerant leak, we suggest air conditioning installation due to age and the refrigerant being obsolete. Modern air conditioners utilize Puron or R-410A, which is superior for the environment.
We realize that replacing your air conditioner can be an emergency that you aren’t ready for. Ask us about our Advantage Program™, which gives you a new air conditioner for just one affordable monthly fee. Repairs and maintenance are covered, and you’ll get to proceed with any worthwhile manufacturer’s rebates.
5. Water Leak
Your AC unit needs a condensate drain line to flush water it removes from the air. If you’ve overlooked air conditioning maintenance, this drain can become clogged with mold and cause water to stay in the drain line. If this happens, you’ll notice water leaking.
Switch off your air conditioner to avoid damage and call us at 866-397-3787 for help.
6. Tripped Circuit Breaker
There can be a couple of reasons why your air conditioning system is repeatedly tripping its circuit breaker. Here are several of the most common ones:
- Dirty air filter is significantly constraining airflow.
- Your cooling overheated caused by a lack of 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 faulty.
- Compressor is drawing too much power or wiring is malfunctioning.
- Capacitor responsible for starting the compressor has gone out.
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 Stark Services.
7. Short Cycling
A faulty cooling cycle can also be responsible. Short cycling is an irritating issue when the air conditioner shuts off before the expected temperature has reached the entire house. If you suspect your cooling is short cycling, pay attention to how long the air is running before it switches off. Your standard air conditioner usually runs for 15 to 20 minutes and stays off for around a similar period of time. But when it’s short cycling, your cooling is turning on and off in short bursts.
This adds heavy strain on moving parts and key components including the blower motor. Short cycling or any kind of abnormal cooling cycles are often a consequence of overheating. The internal chamber gets too hot before safety components turn the AC off. This happens repeatedly, especially if the root cause of the overheating isn’t addressed.
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 program. At Stark Services, we offer several HVAC memberships to accommodate your needs and budget. Faulty wiring, low refrigerant and dirty coils can be uncovered and corrected with routine service.
Occasionally repairs are unavoidable, 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 enroll in a membership program or to arrange your repair appointment? Call us at 817-668-6689 today!