Air Conditioner Issues and Repairs. Here in Arizona, air conditioning is one of the most important features of your home. When summer temperatures become unbearably hot, your house is a cool oasis where you can relax and get comfortable. If you’re reading this to find out why your air conditioner isn’t working, you’re already aware of how critical the solution is. It may take a trained professional to diagnose most A/C problems, but you may be able to get to the bottom of a few common issues right away.
Some of the biggest air conditioner problems are fairly easy to diagnose, and you may be able to save time by inspecting a few things before calling for service. Here are seven of the A/C issues you’re most likely to experience.
1 – Electrical Failure – Air Conditioner Won’t Turn On
One of the main reasons your A/C won’t turn on is that there’s some sort of issue with the electrical components or wiring. This isn’t something you can necessarily fix without a lot of training, but you may be able to diagnose it. To start, check the settings on your thermostat. If it’s set to “cool” and the set temperature is lower than the actual temperature, something could be getting lost between the thermostat and the rest of your system.
You can check the fuse box or try replacing the batteries if your thermostat uses battery power. Don’t try to investigate too much further than that, though, because electrical accidents are extremely dangerous. The most common electrical failures occur because of things like the following:
- Failed A/C Capacitor
- Dirty or Undersized Fuses
- Loose Wiring
2 – Dirty Air Filters
The good news is that this is the easiest HVAC maintenance you can do all by yourself, and it’s also very important. A dirty filter can cut off the airflow to your air conditioner, which causes a wide range of problems like the following:
- A/C Overheats and Turns Off
- Frozen Coils
- Poor Indoor Air Quality and Excessive Dust
- Inefficient Operation and Unusually High Utility Bills
3 – Dirty Coils
The part of your A/C system that lives outside is subjected to the elements, so it can get dirty. Normally, you can fix this just by spraying the condenser coil with a garden hose, as long as you don’t spray hard enough to bend the fins. Turn the unit off and clear debris before cleaning this part– never reach inside to clear the unit while it’s still on.
The coil inside your house is the evaporator coil. You can’t spray this part with a hose, but it’s still possible to clean it. Again, it’s essential to turn your system off before you do this. Either use a vacuum with a brush attachment, or use a cleaning product and wipe your coil clean.
4 – Frozen Coils
If your coils aren’t dirty, it’s possible that they could be frozen. One of the good things about living in Apache Junction or the surrounding areas is that you don’t normally have to worry about things freezing. That said, there are still situations that could arise that would cause your evaporator coils to freeze inside the home or business, and you may even get a frozen condenser coil outside.
If you notice your air conditioner blowing warm air, check the coils for ice. Don’t try to remove the ice yourself, because doing this can damage the coils– just turn the system off and wait for it to thaw. Frozen coils normally point to one of the following problems:
- Malfunctioning Fan Motor
- Low Refrigerant Levels
- Reduced Airflow (Dirty Filters, Malfunctioning Fan Mower, or Blocked Air Ducts)
- Obstructed Coils
5 – Refrigerant Leaks
Your air conditioner works because of the refrigerant that goes between your condenser coil and evaporator coil. The refrigerant collects heat inside your home, then moves it outside and releases it. For this process to work, you need to have a consistent level of refrigerant in your system. Since the supply should never get depleted, low refrigerant is almost always a sign that there’s a leak somewhere in the system.
In the most dramatic cases, you may be able to hear the refrigerant leaking out of your air conditioner. Another physical sign is that the evaporator coil has frozen because there’s not enough refrigerant to absorb heat. Normally, though, you’re more likely to know there’s a problem when you notice that your home is too hot. Your air conditioner will take an unusually long time to make your home cooler when the refrigerant is too low, and you may even catch your A/C blowing warm air.
6 – Faulty A/C Sensor
The sensor is how your air conditioner determines the current temperature of your home. When this component stops working, your A/C won’t be able to tell the difference between the current temperature and the desired temperature you set. The system can’t identify when it needs to make your cooler, so it won’t cycle on. Turn your system off and take a look to see if the sensor is dirty or damaged.
7 – Air Conditioner Not Working, Turning on and off Quickly
When your air conditioner is turning on and off quickly, this is known as running on short cycles. Short cycles are a sign that there’s something wrong, and it’s preventing your air conditioner from staying on until your desired temperature has been reached. The most common causes for this are blocked airflow or poor refrigerant levels, though other components like the sensor could also be failing.
As far as airflow goes, check your system’s filter to see if it’s dirty or clogged. You should do this at least once every three months, and many people like to do it as much as once a month or even more. Permanent filters should be washed every month– just make sure you let them air dry completely before you put them back.
If the filter looks good, there’s one more thing you can check before calling for A/C repair. See if there’s anything blocking the fins in your outdoor condensing unit. If these get too dirty, or if they’re blocked by leaves or debris, this can cause your air conditioner to turn off right after it turns on. Make sure you don’t bend the fins while cleaning them, and call an HVAC professional if you can’t see what the problem is.
Get Top Quality A/C Repair in Apache Junction & Beyond with Superstition Cooling
Here at Superstition Cooling in Apache Junction, we’re your local source for air conditioning repair in the East Valley. Whether something on this list sounds like your issue or not, we’ll work quickly to find out why your A/C won’t work. Our skilled HVAC professionals use the best tools and equipment to ensure the best possible results.
When you work with our team, you have plenty of options for installing a new air conditioner, repairing your current A/C, or simply getting a regular tune-up. We’re ready to help with just about any type of air conditioning concern you could have, so contact us today to get your home or office comfortable again in a hurry.
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