Almost every homeowner’s biggest nightmare is to wake up in the middle of the night with a broken air conditioning unit. The maintenance and repair costs can seem dreadful, but there are common problems that can arise with your air conditioning unit before it is too late and you need a replacement. If you know how to watch out for these problems and regularly check the condition of your AC unit, then bigger costs can be avoided.
Air Filters
One of the most common problems that arise with your air conditioning unit is a clogged air filter. A typical air filter should be changed every 1-3 months or if they are reusable then they can be cleaned and replaced. If you cannot tell if a filter is dirty just by looking at the buildup of dust then you can hold it up to the light. If the light does not pass through it then it is time to be replaced or washed. A dirty filter does not necessarily stop the flow of air when it’s dirty, but it makes the air quality significantly worse and could cause the AC unit to freeze due to a lack of constant airflow.
Thermostat
The thermostat is the control panel to your air conditioning unit, which could be one of the main causes of the problem. If you have a manual thermostat that means the homeowner completely controls every setting available, it could be easy for it to be turned off. It is important to always check if the thermostat is turned on, clean, level and in the correct setting. It is also important that there is no direct sunlight hitting the thermostat or it could greatly alter the temperature reading for the inside of the house.
Compressor and Refrigerant Leaks
If the coolant in your air conditioner begins to leak then it will not operate correctly by frequently fluctuating the temperature. The compressor applies energy to the refrigerant which heats the coils to send heat throughout your home. Since the compressor relies on the amount of refrigerant in the unit, the unit will not cool down your home if there is not enough available. These two parts rely on one another and if they are not both working properly then the unit will overheat and fail.
Breakers or Fuses
The breaker box protects the AC unit from overheating. It also could be tripped and cause the unit to act out of the ordinary. When the motor dies in an air conditioning unit, a technician checks a breaker box first because it could lead to an easy fix with little maintenance.
If your HVAC unit is giving you any trouble or cannot find the problem, give Express Air a call today! We can help you figure out what the problem is and fix it, so the nightmare of waking up with no AC does not become a reality.
