4 Common A/C Problems and What to Do About Them

Your home’s air conditioning system takes a lot of abuse. As part of its plan for revenge, it waits until the hottest day of the year to stop working. You can blame the equipment, but poor maintenance may be the problem.

If your air conditioner is acting up, one of these four problems may be to blame.

1. A Dirty Filter

The culprit may be something simple, like a dirty filter. A clogged filter will restrict the airflow through the unit, making it less efficient and less able to effectively cool the air in the home.

If you haven’t changed the filter on your window air conditioning unit, you may want to start with this simple fix. Most central A/C systems require filters to be changed either monthly or every three months. You may need to change it more often if you have pets.

Some filters are reusable and should be cleaned when dirty. How can you tell if your filter is dirty? Hold it up to the light. If no light passes through, it’s time to either clean or replace the filter. Dirty filters can reduce airflow and even cause the A/C unit to freeze.

Filter replacement is a simple job that any homeowner can take on, and it’s a relatively inexpensive fix, too.

2. A Clogged Drain Line

An A/C unit’s drain line can also become clogged with dust, dirt, debris, and lint. The unit cannot run optimally if the drain line is clogged.

How can you tell if a drain clog is to blame?

The drain pan will fill up with water. When the water leaks out, it can potentially damage the unit and whatever else may be near the pan. In some cases, clogged drain lines can be repaired without the help of a professional. But if you cannot easily find the clog, it may be time to call in a professional.

3. Leaking Refrigerant

An air conditioning unit cannot run properly if it’s leaking refrigerant. Temperature fluctuation is a tell-tale sign of a refrigerant leak.

The location of the leak will determine the cost of the repair. This is one job that you don’t want to take on yourself. Call in a professional A/C repair company, and have them fix the leak.

In the future, have your unit looked at by a professional to find potential issues early on before they become a serious problem.

4. Compressor or Capacitor

The capacitor or compressor may also be the source of the problem. The capacitors ensure the motor can power the compressor and fans.

The start capacitor sends out a jolt that gets the motor running. The run capacitor continues providing jolts to keep the motor running. The unit cannot run efficiently if either of these capacitors stops working properly.

The unit’s compressor applies energy to the refrigerant and propels the refrigerant through the coils. It’s impossible for the unit to cool your home if the compressor isn’t working properly.

Compressors can stop working if there’s too much or too little refrigerant. When there’s too much, the refrigerant will return to the compressor and cause it to fail. When there’s too little, the compressor will run hot and eventually seize up.

If the compressors or capacitors are to blame for the problem, then you’ll need to call in a professional to repair the issue.

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