About Common Air Conditioning Problems
If you haven't yet had a Precision Tune-up performed on your home's central air conditioning system, there could be an unexpected surprise the first time you turn on your A/C. It may not come on at all or there might not be much (if any) cold air, no matter how far you push the temperature down on the thermostat. What causes this very unwelcome event? There could be several reasons.
- Loose or corroded Wiring. Over time, wiring problems often prevent the system from getting power, or can even trip the circuit breaker. In extreme cases, improper or uncertified wiring may be dangerous and a potential fire hazard.
- Outside fan is not working. The outside fan is responsible for transferring the heat from your home to the outside air. If the fan on the outside unit doesn’t run, proper heat transfer is not taking place and the air conditioning compressor may overheat and trip the safety overload. This could also cause internal damage to the compressor.
- Outside unit not functional. This typically indicates lack of power, control and contactor problems or even a faulty thermostat.
- Low refrigerant. Refrigerant, often referred to by the trade name Freon, is the chemical an air conditioner uses to move heat from inside home to the outdoor air. If the AC system needs to be recharged with refrigerant, typically that means there is a leak. Recharging is not a regular or seasonal necessity, so if your A/C needs to be recharged it likely has a leak which must be detected and repaired.
- Dirty outside unit or shrubbery obstructions. This situation blocks proper air flow to the unit and can cause the system not to cool properly. Similarly, over time the coil on the outdoor unit can become dirty and clogged with cottonwood, leaves and other debris. Regular cleaning of the outdoor coil will ensure proper operation and also provide the maximum energy savings.
- Dirty air filters or duct system problems. Dirty filters can also reduce the air flow throughout your home. This condition can dramatically affect the cooling in your come and also impact the air quality, possibly aggravating allergies and sinuses.
In many cases, the only way a homeowner can prevent these common air conditioning problems is by having a Precision Tune-up or participating in a
preventive maintenance program.
What To Do When There's An A/C Problem
For all these common issues, a professionally qualified, NATE-certified HVAC technician can quickly diagnose the problem area and make the necessary repairs. If your air conditioner isn't working properly, turn the system off. Then seek an air conditioning repair company that offers NATE-certified AC repair technicians. NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence, and NATE certification is the HVAC industry's only standard certification that indicates technicians have passed the recommended hours of professional training for HVAC competencies, such as AC Repair. To contact a NATE-certified HVAC contractor, call any
Service Experts location location (all are NATE-certified) or 1-888-HEATCOOL (432-8266). You can also visit
the NATE web site for more NATE-certified heating and air conditioning companies.