Understanding common air conditioning issues can help you take proper preventative measures to extend the life of your AC unit and avoid unnecessary repair expenses. It can also help you understand solutions presented by AC technicians when you require service on your unit.
The following are some of the most common air conditioning problems you are likely to encounter at some point during the life of your AC system:
- Faulty Wiring: When wiring fails, it can interrupt the power distribution and cause the circuit breaker to trip. Improper or faulty wiring is hazardous and may cause a fire in your home.
- Low Refrigerant: Refrigerant, or freon, the chemical that cools the air, may leak or run low. When your unit is low on freon, the air in your home may not feel as cool as usual. If there is an issue causing the leak, the unit will need to be repaired and recharged. Low freon levels will only require recharging.
- Outdoor Fan Not Working: The outdoor fan transfers heat from the interior to the outside. If the outdoor fan stops working, heat remains trapped inside. This may cause the air conditioning compressor to overheat, overload the safety switch, or even damage the compressor’s interior components.
- Non-functional Outdoor Unit: When an outdoor unit fails, it can be due to lack of power, low freon, frozen inside coils, a problematic contactor, or a faulty thermostat.
- Frozen Inside Coil: Indoor coils may freeze up when there is an issue with the airflow. Dirty air filters, return air ductwork obstructions, and low refrigerant levels can adversely affect the airflow.
Addressing These Common Air Conditioning Issues
A preventive maintenance program can help keep air conditioning problems from happening. Routine maintenance and tune-ups can help homeowners identify potentially faulty wiring, low refrigerant, and airflow issues. Competent professionals can accurately diagnose problems and conduct necessary measures to address them.
HVAC units have an average lifespan of twelve to fifteen years. A proactive approach to AC care helps you avoid the extra expense of replacing a unit before its time.
Schedule regular maintenance with Dallas Plumbing & Air Conditioning to help extend the life of your unit and enjoy excellent AC performance.
