Common Air Conditioner Problems

Air conditioners are a blessing to the household, especially to those who live in an area of high temperature, during the summers. Air conditioners eliminate the discomfort, one would go through, in the hot season. However, these air conditioners can fail without warning. There are some common air conditioner problems that occur over time. From refrigerant leakage, loud noise, electric control failure to frozen coils, there are several things that can go wrong with this power hungry cooling machine. Some of the common air conditioner problems are:

Size and Installation Issues
Often mistakes are made with the size of the air conditioner installed. It may be either too big or too small for the room. To avoid problems later on, one must ensure that the appropriate size is installed. Moreover, improper installation of central air conditioning, ends up in leaking ducts and poor air flow.

Leaking Refrigerant
The air conditioner will be low on refrigerant for two reasons. Either it was undercharged during installation, or the air conditioner leaks. In case of leakage, merely adding refrigerant will not suffice. A technician will have to be contacted, who will fix the leak, test the repair and then recharge the system with the right amount of refrigerant. The air conditioner works at its best efficiency when the amount of refrigerant matches exactly to the manufacturer's specifications. Either undercharging or overcharging affects the performance of the air conditioner.

Wailing Noise
Loud and sometimes deafening noises can come from the air conditioner unit. These noises are usually caused by the fan belt. The fan belt can be dislodged from time to time. Restoring the fan belt to its rightful place can solve the problem. While positioning the belt, the bearings in the motor should also be checked. At times lubrication or replacement is needed.

Bad Odor
Air conditions undergo constant warming and cooling, thereby resulting in the quick buildup of moisture. Inefficient evaporation of stagnant water results in molds, fungi, mildew thriving in the unit. Irregular changing of filters also spearheads bad odor.

Problems with the Sensor
A thermostat sensor is present behind the control panel of the air conditioner. It measures the temperature of air entering the evaporative coil. In case this sensor is knocked out of position, the air conditioner may behave erratically or cycle constantly. The displaced sensor must be positioned carefully, all the way ensuring that the coil doesn't touch it.

Electric Control Failure
All the electrical connections and contacts should be checked at the time of professional servicing. Often over-sized systems cause frequent on and off of the air conditioner, leading to the wearing out of fan controls and the compressor. Moreover, if the outer fan stops running, the compressor overheats and gets damaged.

Frozen Coils and Drainage Issues
Frozen coils and ice prevent the combination of Freon and air from circulating, thereby blocking the unit's operation. Collaboration checks can eliminate this problem. The condensate drain is to be checked for clogging. Dirt collection in the filters and coils results in poor functioning of the air conditioner. The fans and compressor may also break down.

Blocked Grills
Wipe the fan, motor, fins and other parts carefully, all the while ensuring that the electrical parts do not get wet. Care must be taken while removing the top grill, since it may be wired to the fan. Blocked grills are one of the most common air conditioner problems and can be solved by carefully cleaning the air conditioner parts.

Stops working
At times the air conditioner may stop working or may even not turn on. In such cases the fuse and circuit breakers are to be checked. The thermostat is to be adjusted to cool and below room temperature. The condenser power and furnace power switches are to be turned on.

Problem with the Outside fan
The responsibility of transferring the heat from the house to the outside air lies with the outside fan. However, if the outside fan doesn't function properly, heat transfer from the house to the outer air does not take place efficiently. This may cause the compressor to overheat and trip. Internal damage can also occur to the compressor.

The only way one can prevent all these common air conditioner problems is by investing in a preventive maintenance program. Routine maintenance tune-ups help detect low refrigerant, bad wiring, airflow problems, etc. NATE-certified technicians are qualified to make the necessary repairs.