Air Conditioning / November 2, 2022
AC Issues for Homeowners to be Aware Of
The summer season is around the corner, and air conditioners will have to do their magic and maintain cool indoor temperatures. If you haven’t run your air conditioner since the last heat wave, you might have a hard time getting it running. It could be as simple as resetting your AC circuit breaker. However, if your AC has stopped working properly, it may fail to maintain desired temperatures, require costly repair, and even break down when most needed.
As such, it is fundamental to ensure you maintain your unit regularly to keep it functioning effectively and efficiently.
What Are the Most Common Air Conditioning Issues?
Learn six causes of the most common AC issues and their telltale signs so you know when to call in an HVAC professional.
- Leaking Ducts
- Dirty Condenser Coils
- Malfunctioning Thermostat
- Clogged Drains
- Low Refrigerant
- Inadequate Maintenance
Leaking Ducts
Research shows that 20 percent of conditioned air is lost through leaking ducts. With leaky ducks, your AC strains to cool your home and has to stay on longer to attain the desired temperature. Consequently, your energy bills skyrocket, and you experience air quality problems.
The signs of leaking ducts include low airflow, cold and hot spots in your home, and high energy bills. Also, if your AC unit takes longer than usual to cool your home, the conditioned air may be escaping through the leaking ducts.
Dirty Condenser Coils
Condenser coils expel heat from your home to the outdoors. However, when these coils are clogged with dirt and grime, they cannot work correctly. As such, your AC works harder to cool your home, resulting in more significant wear for the components and even system breakdown. One sign of dirty condenser coils is your AC losing its cooling capacity.
Malfunctioning Thermostat
There are numerous signs of a malfunctioning thermostat. First, it does not turn on or turns on and off frequently. Second, it is unresponsive to your input –the display does not change when you adjust the temperature. Third, your AC fails to turn on or off. Lastly, you get an uneven temperature in your home.
When you notice these signs, you should consider replacing your thermostat. It would be best to contact an HVAC professional to help you choose the best thermostat for your home. A programmable thermostat is advisable in the current technology age as it saves 10-30 percent of cooling costs.
Clogged Drains
If you notice water leaking or a musty smell from your AC, the culprit may be clogged drains. The moisture your AC removes from the air is directed to a drain line. When the drain line gets clogged with debris, water backs up and may ruin your unit as well as your walls, ceiling, and furnishings. An HVAC technician can help unblock and clean the drain pan and line.
Low Refrigerant
Your AC uses refrigerant to get rid of heat and humidity in your home. If the refrigerant level is low, your unit may not cool the air in your home effectively. One of the common causes of low refrigerant is leaks in the refrigerant lines, which compromise your AC’s performance and damage the environment.
While it may be tempting only to recharge your refrigerant, it is not the best solution. You should contact an HVAC technician to check and repair any leaks and then recharge the refrigerant levels based on the manufacturer’s specifications.
You can tell that your AC has low refrigerant if it runs all day but does not cool your home correctly, produces a hissing noise, and ice builds up on refrigerant lines.
Inadequate Maintenance
Typically, most AC problems are preventable with regular maintenance. Hiring an AC professional to check your air conditioner often can identify any issues with your system before they cause extensive damage and expensive repairs. Maintenance includes checking for clogged or dirty air filters, electrical connections, and more. Also, you decrease the likelihood of your AC breaking down on the hottest summer days.
Contact Our HVAC Experts to Inspect Your Unit Today!
Has your air conditioning system been inspected before the summer heat to ensure it’s in working order? We have over 52 years of experience in San Diego keeping homes comfortable and offering first-class AC services.
