The hottest months of the year are quickly approaching in the Ozarks and not having air conditioning will make them almost unbearable. Below are the top causes of air conditioner problems and how you can prevent them!
Causes:
- Leaking Ducts. How does the cooled air from the air conditioner get to the rest of your home or office? Through the ductwork in your walls. If there are holes in the ductwork, whether caused by rodents or improper installation, the cooled air will end up inside your walls. This will not only make your air conditioner work twice as hard, but you will also see an increase in your energy bill.
- Clogged Drains. Your air conditioner does more than cool the air, it also removes the moisture from the air. The moisture goes through a drain line, into a pan, and then down a drain. So, what happens if the drain/line gets clogged or the pan becomes too full? Not only could you end up with water leaks but also mold growth.
- Fan Issues. There are two very important fans within your system. One fan blows the indoor air over the unit’s evaporator coil to cool the air, and the other fan blows air over the outdoor unit’s condenser to remove heat that has been absorbed outside the building. A broken motor, worn belts, too much dirt and debris, or a lack of lubrication can lead to the fans not working correctly. When the fans do not work the result is poor airflow and more air conditioner problems such as compressor failure.
- Frozen Evaporator Coils. An air conditioner’s evaporator coils has one main job, to absorb the heat from the air. These coils are filled with refrigerant and need warm air to function properly. If the evaporator becomes too cold a layer of ice will appear on the outside and there are two possible results, warm air or no air at all.
- Dirty Condenser Coils. The condenser coils play a very important role within the outdoor unit, removing heat from the air by expelling it outside the building. If the coils get covered with dirt and debris, heat transfer is blocked and not only does the unit have to work harder but it can also lead to increased wear on parts or even system failure.
- Low Refrigerant. The refrigerant is the fluid that your air conditioner uses to remove the heat and humidity from the air. If your system develops leaks in the refrigerant lines, you can end up with not enough refrigerant to effectively cool the air. Unfortunately, fixing this air conditioner problem correctly is not just a matter of replacing the refrigerant. An HVAC repair technician needs to find the leaks and repair the holes in the lines, which can sometimes be a time-consuming and expensive process, especially when there are multiple leaks.
Steps for Preventing Problems:
- Replace dirty air filters.
- Inspect and repair ducts.
- Keep outdoor unit clear of debris.
- Regular maintenance.
Tip: Have a Signature Home Comfort HVAC expert come in to inspect and tune up your system each spring before starting it up for the first time.
Emily Kroutil
Emily is currently a student at Baylor University who graduated from Springfield Catholic High School. She cannot wait to bring you the latest updates on everything HVAC and Signature Home Comfort.
Email: emily_kroutil1@baylor.edu
Facebook: Emily Kroutil
