Common Air Conditioning Problems Common Air Conditioning Problems Air conditioners can fail at any time without warning. If you live in a climate that’s as hot and humid as Atlanta’s, you are asking a lot of your air conditioner!  You probably know since living in this warm climate that any air conditioner outages can result in significant discomfort rather quickly. Many air conditioning problems are a result of insufficient maintenance.  The easiest repair is one that’s avoided altogether by keeping up on regular maintenance check-ups.  In fact, if you haven’t been keeping up on your maintenance and notice your air conditioner starting to slack, a maintenance check-up may be just what you need to get your air conditioner back up to speed.  Some common problems homeowners experience that go beyond regular maintenance and should have checked out include: the compressor failing to turn on, the air not coming out cool enough, low airflow, and leaks. Below are some ways you can diagnose air conditioning problems, descriptions of some common problems your air conditioning system may experience, and some special issues you should know about the refrigerant (freon) in your system.

Ways to diagnose a problem: Check fuse box or circuit breaker.  First thing to do if your air conditioner is not functioning properly is to check the fuse box or circuit breaker that services the unit.  hvac units residentialThe fuse may need to be replaced or the circuit breaker reset.used air conditioning units florida Air conditioner turns on and off frequently.  air conditioner window unit in wallThe compressor and fan controls may be worn out. Unit turning on but not cooling.  If your unit is turning on, but the air isn’t cooling efficiently, your refrigerant may be low.  You may also need to clean off the evaporator or condenser coils by brushing them off or vacuuming them.  In addition, the filter may need to be replaced. 

Clogged, dirty filters block normal airflow and reduce a system’s efficiency considerably.Dirty air filters and/or closed or obstructed supply-air and return-air grilles may cause insufficient airflow through your system.These are usually associated with low refrigerant or a clogged drain pipe.  Clogs can be fixed by clearing out the clogged pipe within the evaporator coil pan.  Leaks should always be handled by a professional HVAC contractor. Common air conditioning problems:If your air conditioner is low on refrigerant, either it was undercharged at installation or it leaks.  If it leaks, simply adding refrigerant is not a solution.  A trained AC technician should fix any leak, test the repair and then charge the system with the correct amount of refrigerant.  Remember that the performance and efficiency of your air conditioner is greatest when the refrigerant charge exactly matches the manufacturer’s specification, and is neither undercharged nor overcharged.  In addition, refrigerant leaks can be harmful to the environment.

If you allow filters and air conditioning coils to become dirty, the air conditioner will not work properly, and the compressor or fans are likely to fail prematurely. Electronic Controls and Sensors Failure.  The electronic controls and sensor that cause your air conditioner, fan and condenser to kick off and on properly are often the first components to go.  Sometimes these sensors are merely knocked out of position causing the air conditioner to cycle constantly or behave erratically.  Fortunately, problems of this nature are easy to address compared to larger mechanical failures, and won’t cost you nearly as much. Fan and Condenser Failure.  Fan and condenser failure, on the other hand, can add up to some pretty pricey repairs.  Replacing burnt-out fan motors is usually worth the expense in order to get your air conditioner up and running again, though a failed condenser can be a different story.  A new condenser is the most expensive AC repair in the books, and depending on the age and efficiency of your current air conditioner, it might be a smarter investment to just upgrade to a newer unit.

Special Note About Air Conditioner Refrigerant (Freon): Contrary to popular belief, air conditioners do not consume refrigerant (freon) as a car consumes oil, so under ideal conditions it would never need changing or filling.  Therefore, a low freon level indicates a leak which should be repaired before adding more.  While most new system connections are welded to minimize leaks, many older units (8+ years) were connected with mechanical flared fittings, which can vibrate loose over the years, causing leaks. Problems with freon leaks: Low freon levels reduce efficiency of the air conditioner. They can freeze the evaporator coil, causing it to literally ice up. Freon is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) controlled substance, deemed hazardous if released into the environment. The heart of the unit is the compressor, which is cooled by the refrigerant.  Over time, low freon levels can cause overheating and premature failure of the compressor, often requiring complete replacement of the compressor or the entire condensing unit. 

As mentioned earlier this is a very expensive proposition. Always contact a HVAC professional when dealing with refrigerant (freon). Join our email newsletter Get up-to-date current news, promotions and industry tips. Didn't find what you're looking for?Select to search all Patches What to Do When Your Air Conditioner is Low on Freon When homeowners A/C doesn't seam to cool off the house the most common thought is "my air conditioner is low on Freon." Is that really the problem? Summer time is almost here. It is getting warmer outside and you will soon be using your a/c. The most common question by homeowners is "does my a/c need freon?". First thing is "Freon" is a trademark name byDupont. Freon is actually regrigerant of many types. Most common residential a/c systems use R-22. Saying freon is like saying Xerox instead of copy machine. I am going to call it Freon for now. People think because the air coming from there registers feels to warm, or there house isn't cooling off fast enough it must need freon.

Freon should not leak from your a/c. Air conditioning systems are sealed and should never leak. This isn't like putting gas in your car. If freon has leaked there is a problem. You need to have a qualified HVAC technician repair the leak or else this will keep happening. When an A/C gets low on freon it is very normal for the indoor coil to freeze to a block of ice. Then when that ice melts you will get water leaking in the furnace and on the floor. Water will damage the furnace and just make your problems worse. Majority of service calls for "my a/c is low on freon" turns out to be just a plugged air filter. It is important that you change your furnace filter every month if you use a standard 1" thick filter.Signs A/C is low on Refrigerant You feel low airflow coming from registers Air starts to feel warmer from registers Water on floor by your furnace Ice building up on copper lines from a/c to indoor coil House takes longer than normal to cool off Now above are typical signs, but remember the majority of problems are something else beside low on refrigerant.

Having your a/c cleaned and tested annually by a HVAC company can save you a lot of money over the years. One new fact to keep in mind is R22 refrigerant is in the process of being discontinued. 2010 all manufactures had to stop using R22 in there new equipment. As this happens the cost of R22 will keep going up. So if you have an a/c leaking this is just another reason you want to get it fixed so it doesn't happen again. New a/c units will typically cost 30% less to run and will use the new enviromentally friendly refrigerant called R410a.  Now in 2012 the EPA has reduced R22 production more than expected and this has caused the price to drastically rise. This post is contributed by a community member. The views expressed in this post are the author's. Registered users are welcome to post on Patch. More from St. Michael Patch Daily Newsletter - The latest St. Michael news delivered to your inbox every morning Breaking News Alerts - Real-time updates on breaking stories in St. Michael