As the summer season starts to heat up, many homeowners are relying on their household cooling system to stay comfortable and safe. While your cooling system can be super convenient when it’s working correctly, you’ll undoubtedly deal with a problem from time to time. We’re going to discuss some of the most common AC-related issues below to help you get a better understanding of your potential issue.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is the lifeblood of your cooling system. It absorbs heat from the indoors and transports it to your outdoor condenser unit where a fan releases that heat into the air outside. When your system starts to run low on refrigerant, it won’t be able to absorb an adequate amount of heat, leaving you feeling warm.
In some cases, you may hear a high-pitched hissing noise if there is a major leak in your refrigerant line or coils. You should shut your cooling system off and call a professional, as refrigerant can be dangerous. In other cases, your refrigerant may leak out tiny holes that develop over time. The first symptom you may notice is that your AC system simply isn’t cooling like you’re used to.
Thermostat Malfunction
Your thermostat is the brain for your entire cooling system. As your household temperature exceeds your desired setting, your thermostat will tell your cooling system to kick on. Unfortunately, your thermostat can experience a malfunction from time to time. One of the most common issues is simply dead batteries. Pay close attention to your low battery warning light and replace your batteries in a timely fashion when it comes on.
If your thermostat doesn’t take batteries or you know you put fresh batteries in it, you may have a problem with its electrical wiring. It’s not uncommon for a wire to come loose over time. Simply popping off the top plate of your thermostat will reveal if all your wires are adequately connected. Any corrosion on the wiring or contacts will need to be cleaned properly. If bad batteries or loose wiring don’t fix the issue, your thermostat may need to undergo replacement. Most thermostats will have a lifespan of about 10 years.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Summertime is notorious for having some nasty thunderstorms. When lighting and thunder strike, they can cause your city’s power grid to go on and off. When power surges happen, this can trip your circuit breaker. This is a protective mechanism for your own safety. If your cooling system isn’t working after a nasty storm, you may need to reset its circuit breaker at your electrical panel box.
Dirty Air Filter
Probably one of the most common problems that homeowners experience with their cooling systems is dirty air filters. While your air filter is great for removing all those harmful airborne pollutants, it can be damaging to your AC system when not replaced promptly. If you notice that your cooling system isn’t cooling down your home as quickly as it used to, check your air filter to see if it needs to undergo replacement. It’s a good idea to make it a habit to check your system’s air filter every few weeks.
Frozen Evaporator Coil
At your indoor air handler unit, there’s an evaporator coil, which is filled with refrigerant. The job of this coil is to absorb heat that passes over it and remove excess humidity from the air. For your evaporator coil to function, it must have adequate airflow. Any restriction could cause the coils to freeze up.
Common culprits of restricted airflow include a dirty air filter, an excessively dirty coil, and obstructed air ducts. In some other cases, a frozen evaporator coil could be the result of low refrigerant. You’ll need to turn off your system and allow your evaporator coil to thaw out while your HVAC professional assesses and fixes the root cause of your issue.
Pooling Water
As your evaporator coil works to absorb heat from your air indoors, it will naturally help to remove excess humidity. Water droplets will form on the surface of the evaporator coil and drip down into your system’s drain pan. There is a drain line that runs from the drain pan at your indoor air handler unit to the outside.
When this drain line or drain gets blocked, all of that water can back up. If left too long, the water will overfill the drain pan and create a pool of water at your indoor air handler unit. You’ll need to have the drain or line cleared of debris to allow for adequate water drainage.
Blower or Motor Assembly Issue
A very unnerving problem you may experience with your cooling system this summer is a loud banging or clanking noise when your system is running. This noise will come directly from your outdoor condenser unit. More specifically, it will come from your blower or motor assembly. If the fan gets off balance or has its blades obstructed, it can spin in an awkward fashion, creating an unpleasantly loud noise. You should immediately shut your cooling system off and contact an HVAC professional to further evaluate the issue.
Bad Compressor Unit
One key component that makes up your cooling system is its compressor. The compressor is located within your outdoor condenser unit and is responsible for compressing refrigerant vapor. This helps to remove heat from the refrigerant so that it can be dispersed outside. When your compressor is on its last leg, you can experience a plethora of problems. These include hot air, airflow issues, electrical problems, uneven cooling, and loud squealing noises.
Capacitor Failure
Another imperative part of your air conditioning system is its capacitor. This device is situated outside in your condenser unit. It’s responsible for giving your compressor a high jolt of energy to get started when your system kicks on. When your capacitor starts to fail, you may hear a humming noise or smell burning electrical wires coming from your outdoor unit. Eventually, when your capacitor completely fails, your air conditioning unit simply won’t turn on at all.
Blocked Supply Vents
If you have a centralized air conditioning system that relies on ductwork to deliver cold air to your home, each main room will have both a supply and return vent. Whenever one of your supply vents is obstructed by items like furniture or a large plant, it won’t be able to adequately deliver cold air to that room. If you notice that some rooms of your home are hotter than others, take a moment to check your supply vents to see if they’re obstructed.
Reliable AC Service
TCS Heating and Air Conditioning offers reliable cooling services for the entire New Britain, PA community. Our highly experienced HVAC technicians are more than happy to assist with all of your heating, ductless mini-split, indoor air quality, and HVAC zoning needs. Simply give our office a call today to schedule your next AC repair appointment!
