Top Issues For AC Systems

When a home’s air conditioning system is working as it should, everyone in the house is happy. Unless you are the person who is always cold, then perhaps you might not be too big a fan of the cooling air. However, that isn’t the AC’s fault; it is the thermostat. A faulty thermostat is one of the biggest problems for air conditioners and a contributing factor as to why they don’t work. However, it isn’t the only cause.

AC’s, just like everything else that is human-made, is subject to problems. Some of these can be significant others, not so much, like the thermostat. Each component of the air conditioning system can be prone to failure. Let’s take a look at the top issues your home’s AC could have, and perhaps narrow down why your home isn’t receiving the cold air it should.

Faulty Evaporator Coils

An evaporator coil can experience issues like freezing. This is due in part to a lack of airflow. When this happens, you may notice that warm air is blowing through the vents. The system may also cycle as usual without having achieved any cooling effects. Another symptom you may see are leaks around the indoor unit. This can be from the coils trying to thaw and work. If you hear strange sounds like hissing, this too is a common sign of a faulty evaporator coil.

Faulty Condenser Coils

When a condenser coil fails, you will notice that the air becomes lukewarm. As the evaporator coil, many of the symptoms will be the same. This is why it is often hard to self diagnose a residential or commercial air conditioning system. However, the condenser is located outside. It needs to draw in the hot air to give the system something to cool. Together with the evaporator coils, they translate the hot air out and inside into cold air.

Because the condenser coil is located outside, they have a tendency to get dirty. This can be from leaves and other debris, but it can cause the coils not to work as effectively. If you clean the coils and the air conditioning works, then you know that is the problem. However, it is recommended that you still have your HVAC technician handle cleaning the coils to avoid damage.

Broken Compressor

A faulty compressor can have a few notable symptoms. One of the first is loud clanking. If you have this mixed with no cold air, you can bet something isn’t working as it should with the compressor. Compressors constitute a significant component of the air conditioning system. They pressurize the refrigerant and raise the temperature allowing the system to cool the air. Without the compressor working, you’ll always have warm air coming from the vent.

Low or No Refrigerant

In any system that uses some type of fluid or gas, there is bound to be a leak at some point. Leaks are the top issue seen by homeowners and HVAC technicians. Being able to spot a leak can be difficult, but the symptoms are always the same, low to no refrigerant in the system. If a part fails, like a compressor, this could allow the refrigerant to escape too.

What Should You Do If You Have An AC Problem?

Most of the issues listed will require a licensed professional to fix. The air conditioning system, because it is pressurized, can be a dangerous thing to work on. HVAC contractors go through extensive training to handle these complex systems and make sure that repairs are done to code. For Green Leaf AC Repair, always consult a professional contractor.