Central Air Conditioner Troubleshooting

The central air conditioners are of two types, viz. split-system and packaged air conditioners. The split-system central air conditioners have two systems, one is an outdoor system and the other an indoor system. The outdoor unit of the split system encases the condenser and the compressor. On the other hand, the indoor unit has the evaporator. In case of the packaged central air conditioners there is an outdoor cabinet that has the air compressor, condenser and the evaporator. Usually, the split air conditioners are commonly used home air conditioners and the packaged air conditioners are used in small commercial buildings. Central air conditioning is a necessary home appliance if you have a furnace. The split central air conditioning is a better option for this situation. Here are some tips for central air conditioner troubleshooting.

Central Air Conditioner Troubleshooting - Thermostat
The first step is to check whether the thermostat has fresh batteries. Some of the best programmable thermostats give a low battery indication. It is advisable to check the batteries of the thermostat before moving further with the central air conditioner troubleshooting.

Central Air Conditioner Troubleshooting - Power
The availability of power must be checked by turning ON the fan of the central air conditioner. If the fan is not running, it means that air conditioner is not powered. The miniature circuit breakers (MCB) and fuses in the air conditioner must be checked. If the problem is with fuse or MCB, it must be fixed. Otherwise, the condenser needs to be checked. For this, checking the compressor and motor of the air conditioner is necessary.

Central Air Conditioner Troubleshooting - Condenser
For checking the condenser, the selector switch must be on 'cool' mode and the fan on the 'auto' mode'. The condenser can be reset using a button near the refrigerant lines. If the air conditioner does not work even after resetting the condenser, it should be replaced. You need to take professional assistance to replace the condenser of the air conditioner.

Central Air Conditioner Troubleshooting - Freon Charge
There are two copper lines running besides the condenser. These copper lines should be at a cool temperature if there is no problem with the freon charge that runs through these pipes.If these lines are warm, it indicates that the air conditioner is out of freon charge. As against this, if the lines are frozen it maybe due to the clogging of the filter or because some object is obstructing the return duct. A dirty evaporator may also cause the air conditioner unit to stop cooling the air. To fix this problem, you can turn off the air conditioner and turn it ON after the system comes to a normal temperature. A dirty evaporator must be cleaned and then the air conditioner must be turned ON. The problem of recurrent freezing needs a professional maintenance.

Central Air Conditioner Troubleshooting - Condensate Pump
Condensate pumps of a split air conditioner or a packaged system are usually placed outdoors. The air conditioner can stall due to unplugged condensate pump. Sometimes, a faulty condensate pump can cause the air conditioner to stop working. If there is water collected around the condensate pump, professional service must be called for so that the problem can be fixed.

Central Air Conditioner Troubleshooting - Cleaning
The condenser coil and fins must be cleaned at regular intervals. The evaporator in the air conditioning system must be cleaned from time to time to ensure smooth working of the system.

Lastly, if the central air conditioner does not meet the cooling requirements, the capacity of the air conditioner must be increased accordingly. In case, you are not able to troubleshoot the central air conditioning system, it is recommended to call a professional installer to fix the problem. The professional installer may ask you to replace the air conditioner if the central air conditioner cannot be repaired. Buying a new central air conditioner involves considering various other factors from the central air conditioner reviews. These were some of the guidelines for central air conditioner troubleshooting.