Top Air Conditioner Problems and How to Handle Them

11 July 2016 by غزل موسوی

Comfort is paramount in every home, both during the warm and cold season. An air conditioning unit creates a fresh and comfortable atmosphere in your home when blazing temperatures hit during the summer. There is nothing worse than having the unit blitz out on you without when you need it most. Luckily, like any other system, common air conditioner problems can be easily fixed. Sometimes, you may not even need an HVAC contractor to fix it for you. Here are some common problems you may experience with your air conditioner, and how you can fix them and get it running again.

The air conditioner doesn't run

If your air conditioner doesn't run when turned on, replace the batteries in the thermostat with new ones and secure the service door properly. If this doesn't work, check the breaker to ensure it is not tripped. If it is, reset it and switch on the air conditioner. If the unit doesn't start, or produces unusual noises, switch it off and call a professional to check the electrical components as they could be the problem.

Unit blowing warm air

Your air conditioner unit could be running, but blows warm or hot instead of cold air. The following could be the reasons for this.

Thermostat settings: Check that your thermostat is set to "heat" and that it is on "auto" and not "on." If the thermostat is set incorrectly, the fun will be running, causing the AC to blow out warm air through the vents but the rest of the unit won't be running.
Restricted air flow: Restricted air flow in the unit can be caused by a worn or dirty air filter or dirty coils. If your air filter hasn't been replaced in a long time, it can wear out and cause the compressor to freeze up. If this happens, the unit will not be able to cool the air. Regularly clean the air filter and replace it every once in a while to allow proper air flow in the conditioner.

The unit switches on and off repeatedly

You could also experience a problem where your air conditioner turns on and off frequently. This is called short cycling and is caused by clogged or dirty condenser coils. The condenser coils are responsible for dissipating heat from your home. If they are clogged, the unit can overheat, causing it to shut on and off repeatedly. Regularly clean your condenser coils together with the air filter to prevent overheating problems.

Most common air conditioner problems are relatively easy to solve. However, if you realize that your conditioner's problem is electricity related, call an HVAC professional to have a look at the unit.

Share

About Me

Hello and thank you for finding my blog! My name is Patricia, and I am have long been interested in construction and contracting work. My father was a builder, and my brother runs a roofing contracting business. Surprisingly, I even ended up married to a contractor. Personally, I am a writer who ghostwrites teen novels, but to get a better perspective on what so many people in my family do, I decided to write a blog about their work. In this space, I plan to write about everything from choosing contractors to doing a bit of construction work yourself. I hope that you like the results, and I thank you for reading!