Air conditioners are part of the cooling system in a home or building. They are machines that are used to treat the air around a space via a cycle of refrigeration which removes warm air and replaces it with cooler air. They help to bring comfort to whatever room or space they are used especially during summer or periods of extreme heat.
ACs as they are generally called come in different shapes, types and sizes. Some of the most popular types are central ACs, window units and split units. Other types include portable units, hybrid as well as geothermal cooling.
ACs can be used anywhere including at home, in an office, in factories, data centers, and so on. In places like data centers, they are extremely important for cooling down machines and systems that emit a lot of heat during operation.
Like any other machine, an air conditioner does not last forever. From time to time, it can develop some issues and will require fixing and when it is too old or non-functional, it may need to be replaced.
You must regularly carry out routine maintenance on your AC to avoid breakdown. ACs that tends to struggle when the weather gets hot are those that are not regularly serviced and kept in top-notch conditions. You can check out AC Repair Now to learn how to get your unit checked, repaired and serviced.
It is important to understand the common causes of issues that an air conditioning system may have and how to avoid them as much as you can; this will help you save money on repairs. Below are some of the issues common to air conditioning systems.
Causes of Air Conditioner Issues
Low Refrigerant
The refrigerant in an air conditioning system is what enables the AC to get rid of heat and humidity and cool a space. If for any reason it is low whether through usage or leaks in the lines, there will not be sufficient refrigerant to enable cooling.
It is not enough to replace the refrigerant because most of the time, low refrigerant is usually due to leakages. A cooling system technician has to find points where there are leaks and block them. This can sometimes be time consuming, tedious and expensive.
Dirty or Clogged Filter
This is one of the main causes of problems when it comes to AC malfunction and it is probably the first thing you need to check when there is an issue. If the filter is dirty, the unit will not blow cool air. A dirty filter obstructs the airflow of the system and can also cause the condenser unit to freeze. This will lead to a malfunctioning unit.
The good thing though is that by simply cleaning or in a case of a faulty one changing the filter, your AC unit can return to working properly and effectively again. If you constantly use the system or have pets, then you need to change the filter often. You can see from this article how often your filter should be changed.
Dirty Condenser Coils
Condenser coils are part of an outdoor unit. They remove the heat by releasing it outside of your space. If these coils are covered in dirt, they will not function properly and this ultimately affects the efficiency of your system; this is also a common problem. This would make your system overwork and can lead to increased wear and tear and if care is not taken, a failure of the system.
To prevent this, the condenser coils should be cleaned at regular intervals; at least once in 6 months.
Issues with the Thermostat
Most AC units have thermostats. If yours come with the old dial system, it may not be correctly calibrated. When this happens, your system will not function as it should. You should simply recalibrate the thermostat or replace it if it needs a replacement.
For newer thermostat types, you need to be sure that it is set correctly. You can refer to the manual of your unit for guidance.
Leaky Ducts
AC ductwork typically runs through ceilings and walls and they are used to carry cool air into the building. A break in the duct or hole means that your unit will not work efficiently as most of the cool air would have dissipated along the way before getting to the place of intended use. Another downside of this is that it causes your unit to overwork to compensate for the shortage and this results in wear and tear and higher energy usage.
Problem with the Fans
Your unit comes with a fan that blows air over the evaporator coil and cools it. A separate fan blows air over the condenser to expel heat to the outside. If any of these fans have issues and do not work, it can affect the compressor and damage your unit if immediate action is not taken.
To avoid a situation where your air condition unit packs ups, it is recommended that you reach out to an HVAC technician as soon as you notice any issue so that they can check it out. This is especially true when you have changed your filter and ascertained that it is not dirty or clogged and also properly set the thermostat.
Conclusion
Air conditioners are important appliances to have especially during hot weather. If you do not want to be caught in the heat, then you need to pay careful attention to your unit. Ensure you carry out regular maintenance, replace the filter at regular intervals and call for repairs when you discover an issue. All this will help to elongate the lifespan of your system.
