5 Common Air Conditioner Problems

With warmer temperatures comes the need to cool off your home by turning on your air conditioner. We all forget about them over the winter months and by not using them for such a long period of time, your air conditioner may be showing problems if you have not had it checked for regular maintenance before firing it up again. JOB Heating & Air Conditioning discusses some common air conditioner problems you may be having with your AC unit.

Air Conditioner Problem: Water Leak

Maintenance is long overdue if you see water leaking from your air conditioner’s unit. Water leaks tend to be from a clogged drain, broken pump, dry air filter, or improper installation. 

The first thing to do after diagnosing a water leak is to turn off your air conditioner and disconnect the power. After that, contact your Saskatoon air conditioning experts at JOB Heating & Air Conditioning.

Refrigerant Leak

If the refrigerant is leaking, it reduces the efficiency of your air conditioner and can be harmful to the environment. In case of a minor leak, you can top up the refrigerant and apply a minor fix. If there is an issue with the pipes, the whole component may need to be changed. Call JOB Heating & Air Conditioning when this happens.

Air Conditioner Problem: Dirty Air Filter 

In order to keep the airflow in your air conditioner clean and free from dust and pollutants, a clean air filter is important. When an air filter is dirty, it decreases the efficiency of your AC unit as well as reducing the ability to cool the air of your home effectively. On average, an air filter should be cleaned or changed every 3 to 4 months.

Frozen Evaporator Coil

If your air conditioner stops working it may be due to a frozen evaporator coil due to the AC unit not receiving enough air needed to operate. This air conditioner problem disrupts smooth AC. In order to diagnose this problem, let the evaporator coil thaw by not using the unit for 24 hours. Make sure you disconnect the power first. Then contact the Trusted Saskatoon AC team at JOB Heating & Air Conditioning to troubleshoot and ensure the AC evaporator coil does not freeze up again.

Air Conditioner Problems: Failure of Electric Control

By turning the AC unit on and off multiple times, you may wear out the compressor. If there is a disruption in the connection due to corrosion of wires, this can prevent the compressor and motor from starting. Check the electrical connection to the AC unit, and if you cannot determine the issue, contact JOB Heating & Air Conditioning. where one of their cooling professionals will be happy to assist.

JOB fix, maintain, service, sell and install all brands of residential and commercial air conditioning units to Saskatoon and the surrounding area. If your air conditioner is not cooling, or if it is freezing up, simply contact JOB and they will solve your problems. 

Here are a few idea’s to keep in mind:

AC PROBLEM: Clogged Air Filter  

One symptom that causes a majority of air conditioning issues is a dirty air filter. When your air filter isn’t cleaned/replaced monthly, dust and dirt can build up and obstruct proper air flow. In turn, this causes your refrigerant to over-cool and freeze any condensation located on your air conditioner.

AC SOLUTION:

Inspect your air filters monthly. If you see dirt beginning to form, give it a clean . We recommend to clean or replace your filters every 4-12 weeks. If the filter looks unrecognizable, the best option is to replace your air filter.

AC PROBLEM: Low Refrigerant

Another symptom is low refrigerant levels. This can be one of the key causes for your air conditioner freezing up. This culprit can be at the center of many issues you’re experiencing with your AC unit. In regards to freezing, a low level of refrigerant will cause the evaporator coils to freeze over. Your refrigerant can run low when you have a leak, caused by holes or cracks anywhere in your system

AC SOLUTION:

Contact Gibbon Heating to access the situation. NOTE: R22 refrigerant is no longer manufactured. In most instances your old R22 system will likely need replacement.

AC PROBLEM: Drainage Issues

The main drainage issues are:

• Dirt causing a blockage
• The drain line and pipe are loose.

When it comes to a blockage, the water can be disrupted by dirt buildup and can eventually cause the air conditioner to freeze up. When your drainage pipes are loose, the water will begin to leak all around the air conditioning system and later freeze over if the leak isn’t cleaned.

AC SOLUTION:

During humid days, check on your drainage pipes. Be sure you see water traveling through the drainage system. If you’re experiencing a clogged drainage pipe, contact us to make an assessment.

AC PROBLEM: Thermostat Levels

Blasting your AC can be an easy way to turn your air conditioner into an ice cube.By frequently placing your thermostat at a low temperature, you’re producing a higher risk of freezing your coils.

AC SOLUTION:

To help with that, do not drop the temp down below 21-22 deg C. If you have a programmable stat, set it the sameway you do heat in the winter (this saves money and is not so hard on your system)

AC PROBLEM: Fan Malfunction

A faulty fan is another issue that can result in a frozen air conditioner. Good indicators for a fan malfunction is if you’re not feeling any air out of the registers. Check that the system is on. Condensation will build up over time. The overage of condensation can build up on your AC coils and result in them freezing because of lack of air flow.

AC SOLUTION:

If the fan is damaged or simply not working, call Gibbon Heating and Air and we can can help get you up and running\

See more of Gibbons Air Conditioning Articles and Tips here 

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• Furnace Installation & Repair
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• Air Conditioning
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Gibbon Heating and Air Conditioning are TRUSTED SASKATOON Air Conditioning & Furnace Professionals