With summer starting up, you’ll be using your air conditioner more often. With heavier use in the summer months you may notice it struggle more than usual. If your air conditioner isn’t keeping you cool, here are 6 possible reasons why.
6 Reasons You May Need Air Conditioner Repair
Air conditioner repair is necessary for multiple reasons. Like any mechanical device with many moving parts, there are several potential places issues can develop. Here are some of the problems air conditioner repair professionals frequently encounter.
1. Dirty Air Filter
Most AC systems should include an air filter located in or around the indoor air handler unit. These filters catch dirt, dust, and other airborne particles before they enter the air handler unit. This keeps the system’s components cleaner and operating more efficiently, as well as cleaning the air in the home. If this filter becomes clogged or blocked, it can impact airflow and cooling, or even cause complete shutdown.
If you’ve checked your thermostat and the air still isn’t cooling, cleaning the air filter is the next logical step. Locate the filter, turn the system off, remove the filter, and inspect it.
2. Blocked Condenser Unit
What is a condenser unit? In most central air systems, the exterior has a large outdoor coil. This coil wraps most of the way outside the outside of the unit. The coil has a series of thin metal “fins” around it, spaced very tightly together.
If operating correctly, the condenser fan draws air into the outdoor unit from the condenser coil. This draws heat out of the home and cools it. This coil can get clogged by debris like dirt or grass, which accumulate between the fins and block the coil.
Dirty coils lead to reduced energy efficiency, lack of cool air, or even damage to the compressor or system shutdown. The coil can be cleaned by clearing away debris, carefully vacuuming the coil, or rinsing with a hose. If the system still isn’t cooling, call for professional assistance.
3. Damaged Heat Pump
Some outdoor units also have a heat pump. This resembles an AC unit but has different components to cool and heat your home. These often experience similar issues that an air conditioning air condenser unit can have. This includes dirt clogging the coils, freezing, refrigerant leaks, and compression malfunctions. Any damage to the heat pump should be handled by your local HVAC dealer or professional.
4. Frozen Evaporator Coil
In the indoor component of a central air conditioning system, there should be an evaporator coil. If the indoor unit is a furnace, the evaporator coil sits in its cabinet outside the furnace. If part of a heat pump system, the evaporator coil sits inside the fan coil cabinet. Warm air passes through the evaporator coil, which removes the heat and humidity from the air. Cooler, more comfortable, air is then circulated back into the home.
A frozen evaporator coil will likely have frost forming on the copper refrigerant tube coming from the coil cabinet. This would provide inadequate cooling, despite high (or higher) utility bills. There may be excessive condensation leaking from near the unit. In extreme cases, may have frost form on the exterior tubing or the outdoor unit.
Due to the complexity of the mechanisms involved, issues related to frozen evaporator coils are best handled by an HVAC professional.
5. Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is the chemical that flows through your air conditioner system to cool your home. Naturally, a leak in the refrigerant will greatly impact your system’s ability to cool your home. It can also lead to damaging the compressor, or a complete system shutdown. Problems related to refrigerant leaks are best addressed by an HVAC professional.
6. Undersized Air Conditioner Unit
Air conditioners are sized according to the amount of cooling they provide. These are measured in British Thermal Units per hour or BTUh. A smaller-sized unit may struggle to cool a larger space adequately. Sizing is determined by a number of factors, including square footage, insulation quality, local climate, and more. Your air conditioning unit should have information about the sizing rating on the cabinet panel.
Depending on your home and the severity of the issue, a smaller unit can be supplemented by a ductless unit to help treat hot spots. In other cases, replacing the system with a new one better sized to your needs may be the right solution. A qualified HVAC professional should be able to accurately assess your home and help you find the optimum way to cool it.
When to Call Pilgrim Plumbing, Inc.
Calling Pilgrim Plumbing, Inc. isn’t something that needs to be done only when there’s a problem. The best way to keep your air conditioning unit in top condition is by performing regular cleaning and maintenance.
Most homes only use their air conditioning for part of the year. Therefore, problems can develop and go unnoticed when the unit isn’t active.
Don’t wait till the hot summer months to turn your unit on only to discover problems. Instead, call an expert out early for an inspection and routine maintenance.
By taking care of your air conditioner regularly, you can guarantee it will cool you off when it’s most needed.
Stay Cool this Summer with Help From Pilgrim Plumbing and Heating
Now that you know why your air conditioner isn’t cooling, you just need to know who to call for help. Pilgrim Plumbing and Heating is the best choice if you’re looking for AC repair services. Proudly servicing Weymouth, Norwell, Plymouth, and the surrounding community, Pilgrim is here to help with your heating and cooling needs. Call Pilgrim at (781) 725-6227 or contact us here for more information or to schedule your appointment.
