The 24 Most Widespread Air Conditioning Issues

The 24 Most Widespread Air Conditioning Issues


In the course of a sweltering Northern California summer time, the very last thing you need is a malfunctioning air-con system. If you’re making an attempt to diagnose a difficulty together with your AC unit, you’re in the correct place! We put collectively this text particularly that can assist you determine whether or not your air-con drawback might be mounted simply, or whether or not it’s time to name a good HVAC firm.

Listed below are the most typical points we see with air-con restore right here within the San Jose space.

1. AC Does Not Flip On

When the temperature is getting hotter, there’s nothing fairly as irritating as your air conditioner refusing to activate. Even while you flip the thermostat right down to a decrease temperature, the cool air nonetheless received’t activate.

Should you’re fortunate, the trigger is solely a tripped circuit breaker or a blown fuse. If resetting the circuit breaker and changing the fuse doesn’t clear up the issue, it may very well be a defective thermostat, strive changing the batteries.

Within the case these options don’t trigger your AC system to activate, the issue generally is a defective thermostat the must be changed, unfastened wiring within the system, frozen evaporator coils, a clogged condensate drain line, or the AC blower could also be broken as a consequence of a defective capacitor.

When the easy fixes fail to resolve the issue, it might be time to name an area HVAC knowledgeable.

2. Air Conditioner Received’t Cease Operating

An issue on the opposite aspect of the spectrum is when your air-con received’t flip off, even when your own home is freezing chilly inside. This is a matter as a result of it may make your power payments skyrocket. Past that, if the issue isn’t mounted, it might trigger additional injury to your central air-con system.

One easy repair to have a look at: test to verify your thermostat isn’t set to “Fan”. This setting runs the blower motor and the fan constantly, as an alternative of working the cooling solely when the temperature exceeds a threshold.

The cooling cycle ought to run a couple of occasions per hour, for about 15 to twenty minutes, solely when it’s hotter than the thermostat setting. It would put on out your HVAC unit to run it constantly 24 hours a day.

What are some extra technical causes your AC will not be shutting off?

Unhealthy relay change. When the relay change is caught, electrical energy retains working to the air conditioner. The compressor contactor can fuse in a closed place, which means the condenser unit will run frequently. This can be a job that can require a HVAC technician to repair.

Defective fan restrict change. If the fan restrict change is caught within the override place, the fan motor will maintain working, even when the air conditioner isn’t biking. A HVAC technician can reset the restrict change to cease the fam from blowing except the colling cycle is working.

3. Air Conditioner Stops Operating Out of the blue

Should you discover that your air conditioner is shutting off randomly each ten to fifteen minutes, it is a phenomenon often known as brief biking. Air con items are brief biking once they activate and off earlier than they cool the atmosphere to a desired temperature. Among the points that brief biking causes embody larger electrical energy payments, excessive humidity indoors, and elevated put on and tear on the HVAC system.

Among the causes brief biking happens embody faulty elements, soiled evaporator coils, a poorly maintained HVAC system, defective thermostats, frozen evaporator coils, refrigerant leaks, electrical issues, or a capacitor failure.

In case your air conditioner shuts off prematurely, make sure you contact a HVAC firm to repair the difficulty earlier than your AC system is broken additional.

4. AC Blowing Scorching Air

Think about it’s the center of summer time, and your air conditioner is blowing heat air. The very first thing to test is your thermostat settings. Ensure that it hasn’t by accident been set to “Warmth”.

If the thermostat seems to be right, the probably wrongdoer is frozen evaporator coils. When evaporator coils develop into soiled as a consequence of outdated, dust-filled air filters, they’ll freeze, which means they won’t take up warmth from inside your house. It’s a good suggestion to vary air filters each few months. This can assist stop frozen coils.

One more reason your AC system could also be blowing heat air is an obstruction within the air ducts and ductwork. You’ll want to schedule an air duct cleansing yearly. It might even be doable there may be leak in your ductwork.

Another reason your air conditioner is likely to be blowing heat air is a refrigerant leak. The refrigerant absorbs thermal warmth, and is an important a part of each the heating and cooling cycles in warmth pump programs and ductless HVAC programs.

You’ll be able to check whether or not your refrigerant line has a leak by feeling the bigger of the 2 copper strains working into the AC system’s condenser. If the copper line is chilly and moist, your refrigerant ranges are good. If the road is air temperature, or doesn’t really feel moist, your refrigerant is low, as a consequence of a leak within the line. Knowledgeable HVAC firm can repair the road and substitute any misplaced refrigerant.

5. No Cool Air Flowing

What should you hear the AC working, however no air is coming via the vent? Or if there may be some air circulating, nevertheless it doesn’t really feel cool? There are a couple of causes this can be taking place.

The very first thing you need to test is for a tripped circuit breaker. The blower fan will not be working, even when the cooling cycle is working.

It’s additionally doable the fan blower belt is damaged. A refrigerant leak might also stop the cooling cycle from blowing chilly air. Should you’re not sure of what’s inflicting the difficulty, name a good HVAC firm.

6. Refrigerant Leak

When the coolant begins leaking within the air conditioner, the unit is not going to carry out accurately, and the temperature will fluctuate. The situation of the leak will have an effect on the price of the restore so having this examined yearly by a educated AC technician is suggested.

When refrigerant begins to leak within the air-con system, it may trigger the system to underperform and work tougher, inflicting extreme put on and tear. Refrigerant leaks are sometimes troublesome to detect as a result of they’re often sluggish leaks, within the coolant strains. The refrigerant helps take away warmth from the house, and pump cool air again into the constructing.

Some indicators that you could have a refrigerant leak are extreme moisture across the outdoors condenser/compressor unit, or if the massive copper line working to the condenser is heat to the contact.

Knowledgeable HVAC technician can decide whether or not the leak is within the refrigerant line, evaporator coils, or one other a part of the HVAC system.

7. Drainage Issues – Clogged Condensate Line

As your house is being cooled in the course of the air-con cycle, additionally it is de-humidified. Eradicating the humidity helps the home really feel cooler. That moisture is condensed, touchdown within the drip pan within the indoor air handler. This water is eliminated by way of the condensate drain line, which strikes the moisture outdoor.

Should you see water dripping indoors, or if you don’t see water draining outdoors, there may very well be a difficulty with the drainage.

The drain line could also be clogged with dust, mud, lint, or small quantities of algae. When this happens, the condensed water vapor doesn’t drain, however backs up into the drip pan. If the drip pan is cracked or broken, there may also be drainage issues. Water can leak out and injury the AC unit if this isn’t mounted.

A service name with a professionally educated HVAC technician can get this drawback mounted shortly.

8. AC System Freezing Over

Should you examine the evaporator coil or copper strains, and there may be ice forming on these, it means your HVAC system is working too laborious to maintain your house cool. This may trigger excessive power payments, and if left unaddressed, could trigger extra injury to your HVAC system.

There could also be obstructions across the blower fan, air ducts, or condenser inflicting the unit to work tougher than it has to.

9. Breaker Journeys, Fuses Blow When AC Runs

If the circuit breaker continually journeys when the air runs, or if fuses blow regularly, this implies there may be seemingly {an electrical} drawback together with your HVAC system. If the circuit breaker or wiring just isn’t rated for the output of the HVAC unit, it may trigger {an electrical} overload.

10. Blower Motor Failing

The blower motor in your central air conditioner system strikes cooled or heated  air via the vents in your house. The air that’s heated by your furnace or cooled by your AC unit strikes via your house till every room reaches its desired temperature. Most fashionable AC programs use direct drive blower motors. There are additionally two speeds, single velocity, and variable velocity blower motors. Variable velocity motors can blow at a decrease velocity when the temperature adjustment required is decrease.

Some frequent causes for blower motor failure are overheating, extreme put on and tear, and extreme moisture. When mud, dust, and particles construct up, it may trigger the windings and bearings to dissipate extra shortly.

Indicators that your blower motor is failing are: poor airflow from air vents, no airflow in any way, burning electrical scent while you activate the air, larger than regular power payments, and unusual noises (rattling, squealing) while you activate the AC.

Should you hear or scent irregular issues when the AC kicks on, it’s possible you’ll want a brand new blower motor. An skilled HVAC firm will help you clear up that drawback.

11. Lack of AC Upkeep / Soiled Filters

Whenever you don’t often change the air filters in your HVAC system, it may develop into soiled and clogged, and subsequently overheat. Evaporator coils can get soiled and freeze over, inflicting the cooling cycle to run inefficiently. Your AC system will work tougher to chill or warmth your house, inflicting your power payments to rise. It’s best to do common preventative upkeep and substitute the air filters in your house’s HVAC system a minimum of each few months.

12. Unhealthy or Unusual Odors Come From AC When it Runs

Unusual and irregular smells coming out of your AC system could point out larger issues. Should you scent electrical or burning smells in the midst of the summer time season, this may imply you rair filters are clogged, and your system is overheating.

Mildew or mould smells could point out you could have leaky or broken ductwork, and condensed water vapor is trapped within the partitions or ductwork. That is one thing you need to take care of instantly, so mould doesn’t type in your own home.

Should you scent one thing like pure gasoline or a skunk scent, this may occasionally point out Methyl Mercaptan, a gasoline line leak, or presumably a sewer line leak. Methyl Mercaptan is a harmful gasoline, so take this signal significantly.

13. AC Blows Loudly – Unusual Noises

Squealing, rattling, screeching, or banging sounds mustn’t happen when the air-con is working. Grinding noises or unusual vibrations when the air-con or heating cycle begins means there’s a drawback someplace. This may be the blower motor, the compressor motor, the motor bearings, a failing belt, or some concern with the air dealing with a part of your AC system. Greater than common power payments may also be an indication one thing is improper.

You’ll want to name a certified HVAC contractor to have a look and repair any issues earlier than they worsen.

14. Thermostat Malfunctioning

The thermostat controls the cooling and heating cycles of your central air-con system. If the thermostat is damaged or malfunctioning, it may trigger a number of of HVAC points.

Should you suspect the thermostat is malfunctioning, test the batteries to verify they’re recent and totally charged. Your thermostat must also be in a room the place it’s not hit with direct daylight. This positioning can usually create recurring calibration points.

Trendy thermostats might be troublesome to program initially however are extra dependable as soon as they’re calibrated. Seek the advice of your proprietor’s handbook to make sure your thermostat is correctly programmed. Dial thermostats can endure from calibration points, particularly after a few years of use.

If you’re experiencing brief biking (the air activates and off shortly) or if your house is hotter than it needs to be, it’s possible you’ll want to exchange your present thermostat with a brand new one.

15. Uneven Temperature Distribution

Some rooms in your house could appear hotter or cooler than others. This may be brought on by the best way the ductwork is specified by ducted programs, With ductless HVAC programs, the air handlers might be set strategically in several rooms to extra evenly distribute the cool air.

What you are able to do to stability out the uneven cooling and heating is guarantee that rooms with massive home windows that face the solar in the course of the day have blinds or curtains, that may scale back the quantity of thermal warmth that enters the room.

16. Unhealthy Capacitors

If the AC is working, however there isn’t a chilly air blowing, it is likely to be a foul capacitor in your condenser/compressor unit.

Capacitors assist the electrical motors which might be in your air-conditioning system begin and run. Particularly, they supply a lift of power in the course of the beginning section to get the motors on top of things. Over time capacitors weaken and ultimately if they don’t seem to be changed they’ll “blow” which renders them ineffective and might typically trigger different points contained in the unit.

Capacitors assist the motors in your AC system begin and run, offering an power increase in the course of the motor beginning section, serving to them rise up to hurry. These capacitors cycle on and off a number of occasions per second when the compressor is working. The capacitors are additionally immediately associated to the life expectancy of the compressor. The older the capacitors, the shorter the anticipated lifespan of the compressor.

The capacitors have to be changed at common intervals with new capacitors with the identical score because the HVAC system, so it matches the air-con motors.

You’ll be able to often inform in case your capacitors are dangerous by checking the skin compressor unit. The fan and compressor ought to each be working in the course of the hotter months. The compressor makes a deep buzzing sound; the fan makes a whirring sound. Should you hear the buzzing of the compressor, however don’t hear the whirring of the fan motor, or should you don’t really feel the fan blowing heat air outdoors, it’s seemingly you could have a foul capacitor.

17. AC Condenser Fan Failure

The condenser fan within the outside condenser/compressor unit helps switch warmth from inside your house to the skin and pull cool air from outdoors. If this fan is damaged, the warmth switch will likely be inefficient, and your house is not going to settle down correctly. A damaged condenser fan can even make your electrical invoice skyrocket.

The fan within the condenser/compressor unit is a crucial a part of warmth change inside your AC system. It’s crucial this fan is functioning accurately.

In excessive instances, if the condenser fan stays damaged and unfixed, it may trigger injury to the condenser/compressor unit.

18. Condenser Failure

When dust and particles get into your condenser, this may trigger issues for the condenser coils, that are full of refrigerant. The soiled coils can freeze up, and as an alternative of correctly enacting a warmth change, the coils develop into a lot colder than they need to be. This may trigger the air conditioner to not distribute chilly air.

Defective tubes or leaks within the seals can even trigger condenser failure. Some put on and tear can happen after many years of use. Should you suspect your condenser is malfunctioning, name an skilled HVAC contractor as we speak.

19. AC Contactor is Worn Out

The contactor is a change within the outdoors condenser/compressor unit. It’s made up of a metallic plunger, a management coil, and one or a number of units {of electrical} contacts. This change turns your AC on and off as wanted to keep up the specified temperature.

Over the course of time, with pure put on and tear, the contactor change can put on out and trigger points with biking. Even when your air-con unit is working completely, changing the contactor each few years as a part of a often scheduled AC upkeep plan will assist stop future points, and prolong the lifetime of your central air-con system.

20. Weak Airflow from AC Unit

Should you discover scorching drafts or weak airflow out of your air-con system in the summertime, there are a couple of causes this is likely to be occurring. Primarily, the fan just isn’t capable of push sufficient hair to chill the house atmosphere. This can be as a consequence of a vent blockage, soiled air filters, or a faulty blower motor.

21. Exterior Particles and Foliage

The surface compressor / condenser unit that sits outdoors on a cement slab must have room round it for correct airflow. A part of the AC upkeep you are able to do by yourself is eradicating any foliage, brush, branches, shrubs, and leaves from across the unit. This can assist it preform at peak capability and forestall any points brought on by blocking the airflow.

22. Leaky Air Ducts

The ductwork that runs via your partitions strikes the air out of your HVAC system all through your house. Generally this ductwork is likely to be broken throughout renovations accidentally, or by rodents. There are three huge points with broken and leaky ductwork. One, condensed moisture can type within the ductwork, and this may leak via holes within the ductwork into the partitions, doubtlessly inflicting hazardous mould. The opposite concern is that chilly air escapes via the leaks within the ductwork, inflicting inefficiencies in cooling or heating your house. This may trigger larger power payments. Third, dust and development supplies can even get into the leaky ductwork, and this dust and dirt distributes all through the system, which may trigger buildup on evaporator coils, electrical elements, and trigger extra severe points.

Should you suspect you could have broken ductwork, name a licensed and bonded HVAC contractor to examine to see should you want air duct or ductwork alternative.

23. Air Conditioning Unit is Outsized or Undersized

Air conditioners come in several sizes and rankings, based mostly on air capability, measured in “tons”. Whereas it appears logical that an undersized AC system will fail to chill or warmth a house appropriately, an outsized system can also be inefficient.

An even bigger sized HVAC system can run a lot tougher than is critical to chill a sure space, inflicting larger power payments. Outsized AC programs are inclined to cycle on and off ceaselessly, with out sufficiently eradicating humidity from the air. This additional moisture within the air creates a hotter feeling. Keep in mind the idiom, “It’s not the warmth, it’s the humidity.” This similar precept additionally applies in heating and cooling.

Earlier than shopping for a brand new heating and cooling system to your residence, seek the advice of with knowledgeable HVAC contractor to get suggestions, and discover the perfect sized AC system to your residence.

24. Electrical Invoice Out of the blue Spikes Up

In case your electrical payments immediately spike up, it may be a difficulty associated to your HVAC system. A defective thermostat, malfunctioning sensors, or dangerous elements can all contribute to your AC system working inefficiently and losing power.

AC Restore and Set up in San Jose and Morgan Hill

Our skilled HVAC crew has been serving to San Jose residents since 2005. We’ll present nice service at an inexpensive worth, ensuring that your heating and cooling system works flawlessly.

At Ventwerx HVAC Heating & Air Conditioning, we offer the experience it’s worthwhile to make sure that your house’s temperature is ready accurately year-round. To get a no-obligation heating and cooling estimate to your residence in San Jose name us at (408) 422-2987, or in Morgan Hill and Gilroy at (408) 710-9595.

 

Whether you require installation, repair, or maintenance, our technicians will assist you with top-quality service at any time of the day or night. Take comfort in knowing your indoor air quality is the best it can be with MOE heating & cooling services Ontario's solution for heating, air conditioning, and ventilation that’s cooler than the rest.
Contact us to schedule a visit. Our qualified team of technicians, are always ready to help you and guide you for heating and cooling issues. Weather you want to replace an old furnace or install a brand new air conditioner, we are here to help you. Our main office is at Kitchener but we can service most of Ontario's cities


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