The air conditioning (AC) unit is a staple in almost every home. However, like most appliances or electrical equipment that you own, air conditioning units are bound to have problems every once in a while.
As the owner of an air conditioning unit (or any major appliance or electrical equipment for that matter), it is best to always be prepared. Preparation, in this case, is knowing what the most common AC problems are. Let’s take a look at some of them:
- You Have A HVAC Problem – HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Sometimes, issues with your HVAC can pop up when something as simple as a malfunctioning thermostat or a low battery problem happens. The HVAC’s purpose is to generate airflow. When it stops working, there is no airflow, which only means something is not working in the system and it needs to be fixed. The HVAC repair involved would depend on what is wrong with the system, and to find out the source of the problem, you’ll need the help of an experienced professional.
- Your AC Is Running Low on Freon – Your AC unit’s system is permanently sealed. The freon that is in your unit is going to stay in your unit. This means that if you are running low on freon, you can be sure that you have a leak somewhere in your system. The leak could happen from one of several sources, and a professional inspection can help you suss out the problem. If the leak is happening from the A-coil unit, that kind of leak typically cannot be repaired. In that case, you would need to replace the whole coil system. What might happen when you are running low on freon is that the coil that sits on top of your furnace might freeze over.
- A Bad Capacitor – Your capacitor is located inside your AC’s condenser unit. When the capacitor starts to go south on your AC, most of the time there is going to be a visible bulge at the top. In some cases, the top might pop right off and what you’ll be left with is dielectric grease all over your electrical section. This is rare, though, but it can happen. At times, your capacitor might even look perfectly fine on the outside. However, looks can be deceiving. Just because it looks good on the outside, it doesn’t mean that it is not dead. The only way to be sure is to run a check with a meter if you have one. A failing capacitor is something that is a normal occurrence with AC units. While a dying capacitor happens gradually over time, it could go bad a lot sooner than expected due to a number of factors. One example would be a very dirty condenser coil or a dirty internal filter.
- A Bad Control Board – Your AC could be down when your control board stops sending power to the unit outside your house. The AC in your house could be running okay, but the blower motor stops running when your control board stops working. When there is no air flowing through, the coil on top of your furnace is going to freeze over in no time. The only way to fix this problem would be to replace the control board.
- Your Condenser Fan Motor Has Burned Out – Your condenser fan motor is burned out when you turn on the AC and the compressor is running but the fan is not. Stand next to the unit for a while and you will eventually notice that a lot of hot air is coming out of it. This means that the condenser is overheating or most likely burned out. One way to tell is to stick a screwdriver through the vents and when you try to spin the fan, it is not going to budge. It is going to feel like the fan is stuck in place. The only way to fix this sort of problem is to replace the whole motor with a new one. When the motor needs replacing, it is best to get your capacitor replaced as well.
- You’re Dealing With Mice Damage – It sounds awful but it does happen. Mice can cause some serious damage to your AC unit. The way to spot this problem is to head outside to your AC unit when you realize the air conditioning in the house is working properly. Remove the electrical panel and if you see a mouse nest inside the unit, then you know you’re dealing with a mouse problem. Grab some gloves because you will have to clean out the entire area before you start looking for wires that the mouse (or mice) might have chewed through. Now, this next part might sound really gross, but there are times when you might find a mouse that is already dead inside the unit. It probably got electrocuted on the contactor.
- Your Wires Are Brittle or Broken – Sometimes, the problem with your AC unit could boil down to something as simple as brittle or broken wires. Luckily, this one is an easy fix. If it is a case of broken or brittle wires, the fix for it would be to snip off the broken or brittle piece. You would then need to fix a new connector on it and you should be good to go in no time.
Coming home to a sweltering home is something no homeowner ever looks forward to dealing with. Air conditioning unit repairs are best left to the experts. The experts have the tools and necessary training needed to help you locate the source of the problem and fix it once and for all. This eliminates the risk you experience by trying to do it yourself and having no clue if you’re doing it right.
When your air conditioning unit is in need of repair, let the experts like Air Pros handle it in a quick and professional manner. They’ll have you feeling as cool as a cucumber in no time.
