The last thing you need in these difficult economic times is an unexpected air conditioning repair. While repairs are occasionally necessary for all mechanical systems, many are avoidable. Here are the top ten issues our Philadelphia air conditioning company runs into in the spring, in no particular order, along with the solutions.
- Dirty Filter
A 1″ disposable filter needs to be changed every month if you have one. You can easily forget to replace it because it’s out of sight and so out of mind. Nevertheless, every year we respond to repair calls where the air conditioner isn’t cooling, and a severely clogged filter is to blame for the problem. In addition to lowering indoor air quality and comfort levels, dirty filters can cause indoor coils to freeze, necessitating expensive repairs.
- The Switch Was Off
For safety and convenience, certain heating and cooling systems feature wall switches in the indoor unit that could be mistaken for a light switch. Your air conditioner won’t turn on if this is unintentionally turned off or if it is left off when the weather is mild. Prior to phoning us, always check this switch’s condition.
- Tripped Breaker
Tripped breakers are one of the most typical reasons for no-cool calls. Before phoning your contractor, reset it. Perhaps, this will not happen again. If so, give us a call. The breaker is tripping as a result of something. Usually, it’s something straightforward, such as a faulty capacitor, loose wire, or defective breaker. However, if left unattended, certain minor issues could escalate into far more costly fixes.
- Refrigerant Leaks
An air conditioner is a sealed system. Never should refrigerant leak. When it does, unpleasant things occur. You use more electricity as your air conditioner’s efficiency declines. It’s possible that your air conditioner won’t cool. The coil could freeze. The compressor can sustain damage. In addition, refrigerants emit greenhouse gases. To find refrigerant leaks, we utilize a range of tools. The issue is frequently as straightforward as a faulty Schrader valve or a poor connection between the fitting and the refrigerant tubing.
- Thermostat
Changing between the heating and cooling modes on some thermostats is necessary. Your air conditioner won’t turn on if the switch is broken or in the incorrect position. Good digital thermostats are generally reliable. Some of the inexpensive options available from the large boxes might. What goes wrong, then? The switch could malfunction, there could be a voltage spike, etc.
- Drain Line That’s Clogged
Air conditioners reduce the temperature while removing moisture from humid air. The plumbing system in your home is normally used to drain the moisture out. A secondary condensate drain should be combined with a backup drain pan. These lines might develop algae, which would clog them up. Your home can sustain water damage as a result. You can schedule a separate appointment to have the drain lines cleared as needed, or we can handle it as part of our spring air conditioners tune-up.
- Contactor
Your air conditioner’s contactor is an electromechanical switch. The outside unit may constantly operate, which is expensive if the contactor’s silver coating wears off and the contactor becomes stuck. Ants can occasionally be drawn to electricity and squished between contactors, preventing them from shutting. The outer unit won’t operate in this situation. Electrical problems with contactors are also possible. As part of a spring tune-up, we inspect them, clean the contactors’ surfaces as necessary, and suggest a replacement if failure seems likely.
- Dirty Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil is positioned in your home.The coil must be cleaned periodically to prevent dust and dirt accumulation from limiting the coil’s ability to transfer heat and decreasing system airflow. Clean coils reduce operating costs and decrease indoor comfort. * Must be done by HVAC Expert
- Dirty Condenser Coil
Your air conditioning system’s condenser coil is located outside. The capacity of the system to cool is decreased by an inefficient coil that is clogged or unclean. Making sure that it is always clean will help you save money on electricity and take less of a toll on your air conditioning system.
- Duct Leaks
With a forced air heating and cooling unit, air conditioning costs money. Air is delivered to the various rooms by the ducting. If the ductwork that supplies this air has leaks, such as in the basement, crawl space, or attic, you are paying to cool an area that you do not want to cool and reducing the amount of air that could be cooling the areas you want to cool. Longer run times and increased energy costs result from this. Most homes have inefficient ductwork, which is your air distribution system, which wastes a lot of energy. I will go into more detail about this in future articles.