Top 7 causes of air conditioner problems:
1. LOW REFRIGERANT. The refrigerant is the stuff that your air conditioner uses to remove the heat and humidity from the air in your home or business. If your system develops leaks in the refrigerant lines, you can end up with not enough refrigerant to effectively cool the air. Unfortunately, fixing this air conditioner problem correctly is not just a matter of replacing the refrigerant. An HVAC repair technician needs to find the leaks and repair the holes in the lines, which can sometimes be a time-consuming and expensive process, especially when there are multiple leaks.

2. FROZEN EVAPORATOR COILS. Your air conditioner’s evaporator coil is filled with refrigerant, and is responsible for absorbing the heat from the air like a sponge. It may sound counter-intuitive, but those coils need warm air circulating around them to work properly. When something goes wrong with the airflow and the evaporator coil gets too cold, a layer of ice can build up on the outside. When that happens, you’ll get warm air or none at all coming from your air conditioning supply registers. Air conditioner service center in mumbai

Related Article: AC Troubleshooting: FROZEN HVAC System? Don’t “Let It Go!”

3. DIRTY CONDENSER COILS. Your unit’s condenser coils, part of the outdoor unit, gets rid of the heat removed from the air by expelling it outside the building. The condenser coil won’t work well when it gets covered with a layer of dirt and grime. This is a very common problem in NYC with all the soot and pollution in the air. When it happens, heat transfer is impeded, and your unit has to work harder to do its job, leading increased wear on the parts and even system failure.

Related Article: Clean HVAC System Condenser Coils = Lower Energy Bills

4. FAN PROBLEMS. There is a fan that blows indoor air over your unit’s evaporator coil to cool the air, and another that blows air over the outdoor unit’s condenser to expel the absorbed heat outside the building. If either of those fans isn’t working properly– due to a faulty motor, lack of lubrication, worn belts or too much dirt and debris– you end up with poor airflow and air conditioner problems. If you neglect the problem, it can lead to compressor failure, which is often a death sentence for your air conditioner.

5. LEAKING DUCTS. The ductwork that runs through your walls and ceilings carries the cooled air from the air conditioner throughout your space. However, if there are holes or breaks in the ducts (which can be caused by rodents or careless workers), that expensive cooled air winds up inside your walls where it’s not doing anybody any good. And, of course, this scenario causes your air conditioner to work harder and drive up your energy bills.

6. THERMOSTAT PROBLEMS. Especially if you still have the old dial-type thermostats, they could be incorrectly calibrated, which means your air conditioner isn’t getting the right instructions from the control system. This problem is fairly easy to fix by replacing or recalibrating your thermostats. If you have new programmable thermostats, sometimes these are tricky to program and they may be set incorrectly. If you still have the manual, check the instructions to make sure your thermostat’s settings are correct.

7. CLOGGED DRAINS. All the moisture that your air conditioner removes from the air has to go somewhere. It’s supposed to be removed from the space through a drain line, into a pan and finally down a drain. If the line or drain gets clogged or the pan gets full, the water can back up and damage your system. You can also wind up with water leaks that damage your walls, ceilings, and furnishings. If you don’t see it right away, you’ll eventually have mold growth.

When your air conditioner suddenly stops working, it can be cause for alarm or it can be something as simple as a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker.

While many problems with your air conditioner will require a professional technician to repair the issue, we find that sometimes a homeowner can fix simple problems with a little troubleshooting.

We have put together the following troubleshooting guide to help you address four of the most common problems you may encounter with your air conditioner.

It is important to note that many common problems with air conditioners can be caused by inadequate maintenance. To help avoid any future issues, we recommend that you get set up on an annual maintenance plan for your heating and cooling systems. For more information about the maintenance plans we offer at A.J. Perri please visit our website or contact us today.

1. Your Air Conditioner Won’t Turn On

If your air conditioner isn’t turning on, first check your unit outside to determine if the condenser is running. Make sure that the unit is plugged in and your thermostat is set properly.

It sounds simple, but lower your thermostat 5 to 10 degrees and see if that fixes your problem- and make sure your thermostat is set to cool. Our Maintenance Manager, John, points out that many thermostats are tricky and homeowners may be able to save themselves time and money by reading the manual.

Then check to see if a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker is to blame.

If your air conditioner still will not turn on or your coil is frozen, you may have a problem with your motor or compressor and will need to contact a professional to repair your system.

2. Your Air Conditioner Is Not Cooling the Air

If your air conditioner will turn on, and your thermostat is set properly, but your system is not cooling you may have a dirty or blocked air condenser. Your first step is to check the outside unit and clean around and remove any debris or weeds that are blocking air circulation.

Next, check your filter and make sure it is clean. A lot of times, we find the filter is dirty, and when it restricts the air to the evaporator coil, the coil can freeze. If you have pets or run your a/c often, you may need to change your filter more frequently. A good test is to pull your filter out and check if you can see through it.

If your air conditioner is still not cooling air, you may have a problem with your compressor or refrigerant and will need to contact a professional.