Seven Most Common AC Problems and How to Fix Them

When your home’s cooling goes on the fritz, you should try to get the situation dealt with as soon as possible. However, there may be countless of reasons why your cooling isn’t working properly. How do you know which one is impacting you? There are a handful of problems that are more prevalent, and determining what they are is handy when your Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing Expert is reviewing available choices for solving the problem through air conditioning repair in North America. 

Here are the top six common air conditioner problems that can cause your air conditioner to break down. 

1. Thermostat Problems 

Your thermostat instructs your air conditioner when to start and for how long to run. If its settings are inaccurate, your air conditioner might not work properly. And if the batteries died in a programmable thermostat, it won’t be accessible at all. Run through this quick 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 switched to cooling mode 

• Ensure your desired temperature is below the current room temperature 

2. Dirty Air Filter 

Dirty 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 could cause lots of problems, including decreased airflow, poorer indoor air quality and excessive power use. They can also make an air conditioner work harder and stop working if the coil freezes. 

You can easily reduce the risk of AC problems by regularly cleaning or replacing the air filter. How do you know if you should change the filters? If you can’t remember the last time you changed them, it’s almost surely time to. But for a general recommendation, 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 important components because they emit heat from your home into the outdoor air. But even in the middle of the summer, ice can develop on the coils. Frozen coils won’t be able to regulate the cooling process as easily, and in certain cases sufficient ice can block the AC from running entirely. 

Freezing can be connected to several issues, including: 

• Dirty coils caused by ignoring annual maintenance 
• Dirty air filters, which reduce airflow 
• Clogged drain line, which can cause moisture buildup 

• Refrigerant leaks, which lessen cooling power 

If your air conditioner has frozen, shut it off and let the ice on the coils melt. This will sometimes take up to 24 hours, but you can speed up the process by switching settings to “fan only.” This blows warm air across the coils without going through a refrigeration cycle. 

It’s a good idea to check the air filter first. If you can’t see light through it, replace it. The other issues, such as dirty coils, a clogged drain line or refrigerant leaks, will require professional help. 

4. Refrigerant Leak 

Your air conditioner uses refrigerant to transfer heat. When it doesn’t have adequate refrigerant, you may notice you’re getting a lot of hot air. Here are a few signs you’re confronting a leak: 

• Inadequate cold air 
• Home seems humid 
• Excessively long cooling cycles 
• Ice forming on the evaporator coils 
• Bubbling or hissing air conditioner noises 

• Sweet smell close to the air conditioner 

If your air conditioning system was installed prior to 2011, it likely uses Freon® or R-22. This coolant is no longer being produced as a consequence of its detrimental effects on the ozone layer. Only recycled supplies are available, which makes refrigerant leaks more costly to repair. 

If your R-22 AC unit has a refrigerant leak, we advocate for air conditioning installation due to age and the refrigerant being obsolete. Newer air conditioners use Puron or R-410A, which is better for the environment. 

We realize that replacing your cooling can be an emergency that you aren’t ready 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 proceed with any valuable 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 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. 

Switch off your air conditioner to minimize damage and get in touch with us at 866-397-3787 for support. 

6. Tripped Circuit Breaker 

There can be a few reasons why your air conditioner won’t stop tripping its circuit breaker. Here are several of the most prevalent ones: 

• Dirty air filter is significantly constraining airflow. 

• Your air conditioning system overheated due to a lack of refrigerant. 
• Condenser coils are dirty and reducing airflow. 
• Condenser fan motor has malfunctioned and coils are overheating. 
• Electrical connections are worn or loose. 
• Blower motor is malfunctioning. 

• Compressor is drawing too much power or wiring is defective. 
• Capacitor responsible for starting the compressor has gone out. 

Like we mentioned earlier, check your air filter first, as that is most likely to be the culprit. Any other problems will have to be resolved by an HVAC professional like Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. 

7. Short Cycling 

An improper cooling cycle can also cause problems. Short cycling is an annoying issue when the air conditioner shuts down before the set temperature has reached the entire house. If you think your AC unit is short cycling, pay attention to how long the air is running before it turns off. Your average air conditioner generally runs for 15 to 20 minutes and stays inactive for around an equivalent period of time. But when it’s short cycling, your cooling is running on and off in small bursts. 

This adds heavy strain on moving parts and vital components including the blower motor. Short cycling or any kind of irregular cooling cycles are often caused by overheating. The internal chamber gets too hot before safety components turn the AC off. This happens repeatedly, especially if the source of the overheating isn’t resolved. 

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 plan. At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we promote several HVAC memberships to suit your needs and budget. Bad wiring, low refrigerant and dirty coils can be discovered and corrected with routine tune-ups. 

Sometimes repairs are inescapable, but as a maintenance member, you’ll receive 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 arrange your repair appointment? Call us at 866-397-3787 today!