When was the last time you gave your air conditioning unit a maintenance check? Just like your other appliances, your air conditioner also needs some TLC to function well. Without proper maintenance, your system may struggle cooling down your home during extremely hot days and worse, may not last long.
Through a preemptive air conditioning maintenance, you can start off the warmer weather months in a comfy zone and as complaint-free as possible. Of course, when the hot days hit and the heat is on, the last thing you want is for your air con unit to be off. Familiarizing yourself with the common AC issues will make it easier for you to identify when your unit needs some fixing, so you can be ready for the warmer days ahead.
Let’s take a look at the 7 most common air conditioner problems and some tips on how to fix them:
Dirty filter
Is your air conditioning unit too hot? Or is the air coming from your unit not cold enough? Then you might have a problem with your filter. Regardless of the type of air conditioner you are using, a clogged filter reduces the efficiency of your unit because it restricts airflow. It also reduces the ability of your air conditioner to cool the air effectively, so you might notice that your unit is taking too long to cool down your room. Try checking your filter manufacturer’s recommendation for when to change your aircon filter—you never know, it must be time to swap in a new one. The typical recommendation is to change your filter every 12 months but if you have pets at home, you may need to change more often.
Overheating
Did you know that direct sunlight does not only increase your power usage but wears off your air conditioning unit, too? When it gets too sunny and your window aircon gets direct sunlight in the heat of the day, it is forced to work harder to produce cool air. This is because with direct sunlight, the chassis of your air conditioner heats up along with the radiator and coolant through conduction. As a result, your unit struggles and needs to work longer before it reaches the temperature set on your thermostat. If you have the option of moving your unit to a shadier spot, do it so it does not heat up when it’s too sunny outside. If not, at least keep your shades and curtains down so the sun will not extremely heat up your room. That means less work needed from your air conditioning unit.
Vibrating noise
It’s normal for air conditioners to make plenty of noise sometimes, but if you hear a vibrating noise, it may suggest that your unit was not installed correctly. Such vibrations could also mean there’s a mechanical problem with your fan motor or compressor, or the blower wheel or motor fan blade of your unit is out of balance. Whatever the reason, it is best to consult an HVAC professional to conduct a maintenance check on your unit and see if your air con needs to be fixed or replaced.
Water leak
One of the most common problems of air cons is water leak. But do you know what a leaking aircon means? Well, if you see water leaking from your unit, then that only means your maintenance is overdue! Your unit might also be leaking because the condensate drain of your system got clogged up due to algae or fungi, causing the water to back up the pipe and into your home. Another common reason for leaking air conditioners is the condensate pump breaking down completely. In that case, you need an HVAC professional to replace the broken part completely.
Frozen evaporator coil
Sometimes, your air con will just stop working altogether and it could be because its evaporator coil got frozen. This happens when your air conditioner does not get the enough amount of air it needs to operate. When your evaporator coil freezes, it can result in your aircon freezing up—causing it to stop working as the sheets of ice begin to accumulate on the coil. Once the entire coil is covered with ice, the refrigerant in the coil will no longer be able to absorb latent heat. The first thing you need to do when you encounter this problem is to let the evaporator coil thaw. After 24 hours, call a professional to rectify the issue.
Failure of electric control
Are you the type who turns your air conditioner on and off so often? Then it might not be long before your compressor and fan wear out. The problem is, the compressor, blower motor, and condenser motor of your air conditioning system are interconnected and they all need to function well for your unit to start. Any disruption in this connection will keep the compressor and motor of your aircon from turning on. If you want to determine the issue, you may check the electrical connection of your unit to see if all the key parts are working just fine. Regular aircon maintenance can also help you prevent this issue.
Fan failure
If you notice that the fan of your system periodically stops, then there might be a problem with the wiring of your system. If the issue is not with the wiring, then there could be some loose part somewhere. To know if your fan needs some fixing, take out the outer casing of your unit and inspect it from the inside out. If you find it too difficult to diagnose the issue by yourself, call a professional so you can get your air conditioner fixed properly.
While these aircon-related issues are fairly common, you can prevent them by making sure that the filter, refrigerant, and other moving parts of your unit are regularly maintained. With proper maintenance, you can be sure that your aircon unit is safe to use and does not have any underlying issues that may affect its efficiency in the long run. Call an HVAC professional from suncityair.com.au right away if you encounter any small issue with your unit to make sure that it does not lead to bigger issues.
Whatever the reason, it is best to consult denver air