Talking About HVAC

Posted on: 14 January 2021

You might rely on your home's air conditioning system to beat the heat during the summer months, but what happens when it stops working properly or at all? While undertaking regular maintenance on your air conditioner helps ensure it cools in times of need, even properly maintained AC systems can fail sometimes. That's why AC contractors offer AC repair services in addition to other services. 

Take a look at some of the common causes of AC system malfunction.

1. Dirty Air Filter

When was the last time you had your air conditioner's air filter cleaned or replaced? If you haven't been cleaning or replacing the filter as regularly as you should, your AC system will use more electricity to cool your home, which can hurt your finances due to the increased electricity bills. In addition, a dirty air filter inhibits the flow of air into your AC system, thus causing your AC to run harder than it should to provide the cool temperatures you want. The additional strain on your cooling system can lead to overheating, accelerate wear and tear of AC components, and ultimately cause a complete breakdown of the system.

2. Frozen Evaporator Coils

Located inside of the air handler unit of your AC equipment, the evaporator coils is where the warmer air pulled from your home interior gets cooled. The coils contain cold, low-pressure refrigerant, which absorbs heat from the indoor air before it can be expelled outside. If there isn't sufficient airflow entering your AC system, your evaporator coils won't have enough heat to absorb. This will cause them to freeze up. Therefore, in order to fix frozen evaporator coils, you'll need to let the condensation that has built up on them melt completely and then unclog your drainpipe. You'll also need to clean or replace your air filter if it's too dirty.

3. Dirty Condenser Coils

Because they're located inside the outdoor unit of your AC system, your condenser coils are prone to dirt accumulation. If you don't have your AC cleaned regularly, too much dirt may accumulate on these coils, restricting their ability to transfer indoor heat to the outside environment. This may lead to overheating problems and an eventual breakdown of your cooling equipment.

4. Condenser Fan Failure 

With all that hot refrigerant running through it, your condenser unit can overheat quite easily. The function of the fan found in your outdoor unit is to blow cold air over the unit to keep it from overheating. If this fan fails, your AC system could overheat and completely break down.

Knowing the signs of AC trouble and undertaking the necessary repairs quickly can help to avert a complete breakdown of your AC. As such, contact an AC contractor for more information regarding AC repair.