Common Air Conditioner Faults and How To Repair Them

If you use air conditioners in your home or office, there are chances you have faced one or more common air conditioner faults. If this is true, you most likely called a repair technician to fix the problem. 

You probably did not think to fix the problem yourself because you don’t have any idea about fixing air conditioner issues. After reading this article, you will be better positioned to resolve such issues in the future.

This article comes with multiple do it yourself fixes for the most common air conditioner problems. You will also learn new tips for maintaining your air conditioner. This way, the next time something goes wrong with your air conditioner, you can try to see what it is before calling the repairman.

Common Air Conditioner Faults and How to Fix Them

Like any other electrical appliance, your air conditioner can develop faults at any time. This is most likely to happen when you don’t carry out regular servicing and maintenance.

However, it is vital to keep your cool when you face such issues with your air conditioner. Here are some of the common problems you can face with your cooling device and the quick fixes.

Your Air Conditioner Refuses to Come On

There are times you turn on your air conditioner, and it fails to respond. This situation can be very frustrating, especially if you are coming home after a sunny, sweaty day. However, instead of getting yourself heated up further, you may want to try some quick solutions for this issue.

Your AC may fail to come on if its thermostat batteries are dead. If that is the case, replacing the batteries will get your AC on. However, if the thermostat batteries are in perfect condition, you need to check your thermostat settings. You must ensure your cooling mode is in tandem with the temperature settings of your choice.

If there are no issues with your settings, the problem may be from your circuit breaker. It may be tripped, and if that is the case, your AC won’t come on. You must reset it. You can easily do this by flipping the switch off and on again.

Your Air Conditioner Fails to Blow Cold Air

This is one of the common air conditioner faults in Vaughan. It can be quite frustrating because that is the appliance’s primary function. Many things can cause your AC not to blow cold air. Your air filter may be dirty, which freezes up your device’s condenser limit.

When this happens, the AC’s cooling power becomes limited. Clogged up air filters are often the leading causes of air-con airflow problems. Hence, you need to change your AC’s air filter to solve the issue.

You should change your air filter monthly. This will ensure your air conditioner works well. You must also check the filter every month by passing light through it. If the light rays do not pass through it, then it means you need to change the filter.

Your Air Conditioner is Not Cooling Well

“Why is my aircon not cooling?” is perhaps the most common question asked in Vaughan. This situation can be frustrating, but there are a few quick fixes you can try out. One of the reasons for this cooling issue is that your AC vents may be closed.

Therefore, you need to check to ensure all of them are open. Even if one of them is closed, it will make it difficult for your appliance to cool your home effectively. Another reason your air conditioner may fail to cool the space properly is if the refrigerant line is leaking. Usually, the reason is that the AC may be too old, wearing out, or wrongly installed.

Your air conditioner may also be the wrong size specification for your home. When your AC is too large for your home, it will cycle off and on too quickly. This reduces its overall efficiency.

On the other hand, if your AC is too small for your home, it will be too hard for it to cool efficiently. This leads it to break down prematurely.

Your Air Conditioner is Cycling On and Off

One of the everyday things that can go wrong with your air-con is short cycling. This occurs when your AC goes on and off now and then. Certain things can cause this problem. Some of the possible reasons include refrigerant leaks, a dirty filter, or a bad thermostat.

AC short cycling may also be due to a structural issue. It can be that your air conditioner’s thermostat is wrongly placed or the AC is too large for the home or office. You need to take your time to solve short cycling issues for your AC.

Check for any leaks to your AC’s refrigerator line and fix them. Also, check the filter to ensure it is not dirty or clogged up. Clean or replace the filter if it is the case. If you try all these and there are no results, you will need to call an air conditioner repair and installation expert to fix the issue.

Your AC’s Coil is Frozen

This is one of the most common air conditioner faults. It causes your AC to stop blowing cold air. When your system’s coil freezes, you may not necessarily need to call a professional repairer to solve the issue.

Some of the problems that can cause your AC’s coil to freeze include:

• Restriction to its airflow.
• AC’s refrigerant is low.
• The outdoor temperature is low.
• There are broken parts within the system.

To solve the problem, you need to turn your system off. Proceed to set the fan to run on the thermostat. This allows the ice around the coil to melt. When it melts, you can check for possible issues.

If the evaporator and air filter get clogged up with debris, you need to clean them properly. Also, you may need to check the AC’s ductwork to see if there are any disconnections or obstructions. Finally, check that there are no blockages in the registers.

If you carry out all these checks and your air conditioner still freezes, it means either your refrigerant is leaking or its line is damaged. In such cases, it is best to call an expert to fix it.

Your AC’s Refrigerant Has Leaks

One of the reasons for faulty ACs or your air conditioner not getting cold is a leaking refrigerant. When people face this problem, they usually think the solution is to add refrigerants. However, it hardly solves the issue. Besides, you need to be cautious about adding refrigerants to your system.

This is because the amount of refrigerant in your AC needs to be in tandem with the manufacturer’s specification. It is rare for ACs to have undercharged installations. Hence, when your system becomes low on refrigerant, there are high chances of leaks somewhere. First, you need to know the reason for the leak and come up with a solution.

If you discover the leakage is small, you can use a Freon leak repair kit to fix the issue. This kit can work for the home or small office air conditioners. However, if your refrigerant continues to leak afterward, the best thing to do is to bring in an expert.

Your AC’s Ductwork is Leaky or Dirty

When your system’s air filter gets clogged up with debris or dirt, they accumulate in the ductwork. When this happens, it lowers the system’s efficiency. This leads to wasted energy, poor indoor air quality, and lower cooling quality.

You must ensure your AC ducts are clean. Many air conditioner maintenance services tell their clients to carry our regular checks on their system’s ducts to ensure it has no debris. To check if your ductwork is clean, open an air register and touch the duct’s side with a damp cloth. If the cloth wipes dirt or debris, it means your duct is dirty.

You can call an HVAC technician for help with cleaning your ductwork. If you observe any leaks in your system’s ducts, the technician can also fix such leaks.

Your Air Conditioner Refuses to Turn Off

If your AC fails to go off or has stayed longer than it is meant to, it may be because of a clogged up filter. You need to clean the filter or replace it with a new one. Your AC may also refuse to go off if it is too old or the wrong size for your room.

When the AC is not the right size for your space, it has to work too hard. When this happens, it may be hard to shut it off. Other issues that can cause the air conditioner to stay on include:

• A faulty thermostat
• The thermostat cable has a short
• A fan relay is stuck

Your AC Has a Funny Smell

This is one of the not so common air conditioner faults. Water can collect in your system’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) box. This can lead to a buildup of bacteria, causing a foul smell to emanate. This foul odour is similar to that of vinegar or urine.

Other things can cause a foul smell to come from your AC. These include leaking antifreeze, an old filter, or a nest of animals. Hence, when you turn your AC on, your whole house will begin to smell funny. This can be very frustrating, and you must take immediate action to remedy the situation.

It is hard to tell the exact reason your air conditioner smells so bad if you don’t check it. You may think it is just a bad smell, but your health can be at risk depending on the problem. Inspect your system’s external component to ensure there are no animals within it. Also, check to see that your filter is not dirty.

If you don’t find any issues, you need to contact air conditioner repair and maintenance services to inspect your system. It may be that there are leaks within that only professionals can discover.

Your AC Has a Sensor Problem

Within your air conditioner, there is a thermostat sensor. It is located close to the AC’s evaporator coil. The thermostat sensor’s function is to measure the evaporating coil’s air temperature and adjust the cooling based on your room’s condition. When the sensor gets forced out of its normal position, your system will cycle repeatedly or turn on and off.

You need to place the sensor in its usual position close to the evaporator coil. Ensure the coil and the sensor have no contact with each other. You can adjust the sensor by bending the wire to keep it in position.

Your Air Con’s Blower Motor Fails to Turn On

Another one of the common air conditioner faults is your system’s blower motor refusing to come on. There are many possible reasons why this may happen. It can be that your AC’s breaker has tripped off. Hence, you need to check the breaker panel.

You must note that there are two different breakers within your AC unit. One serves the condenser while the other breaker serves the fan. If the breaker is tripped halfway, you need to turn it off and on again. If it continues flipping when you start your system, it means the AC’s breaker has developed a fault and needs replacing.

Another reason why your blower motor can refuse to turn on is because of the overflow shut-off switch. The switch may be set off by a blocked drain line, killing the power unit. The problem may also be from a faulty switch. Check the drain line and ensure it is working correctly and has no blockages.

Damaged or faulty wiring can also be the reason your blower motor is refusing to turn on. Faulty wiring can cause common air conditioner faults. When this is the problem, you will need a professional to fix it.

Related article: Air Conditioner Repair: AC Not Getting Cold

Maintenance Tips for Your Air Conditioner

Besides knowing how to repair a faulty air-con, you need to carry out regular maintenance on your cooling system. This goes a long way to ensuring your AC lasts long and provides the best output all the time. Some of the routine maintenance practices you can perform include:

Changing and Cleaning the Air Filter

As you observed from some of the faults and fixes above, the air filter contributes to many air conditioner problems. Caring for your AC’s air filter is one of the essential maintenance tasks you can do. You need to replace the filters monthly to ensure your system’s efficiency.

Cleaning the AC’s Coils

It is expected that your AC’s condenser and evaporator coils will get clogged up with dirt over time. If this debris is left to accumulate, it leads to a blockage, causing the unit to function poorly.

Therefore, you must clean your air conditioner’s coils regularly. You should also remove dirt from your unit to avoid airflow restriction.

Straighten Your Unit’s Coil Fins

The AC’s condenser and evaporator coils are made of aluminum. They can bend easily, causing a blockage that hampers airflow through the coil. Ensure you straighten the coils to prevent this from happening.

Carry Out Regular Maintenance

You must carry out an annual checkup of your air conditioner to detect any issues it may have. Contact trusted air conditioner repair and maintenance services to perform such checkups and ensure your unit is in good condition.

Cooling Things Down

Having come to this point of the article, you should be more familiar with the common air conditioner faults. Not just that, you can also solve some of these problems yourself without help from an expert. Besides knowing how to solve common problems with your AC, you must practice regular maintenance. These maintenance practices help your air conditioner to last longer and remain in good condition.

There are specific AC faults you can’t solve by yourself. In these cases, you will need the help of an expert in resolving such issues. In instances like this, always go for trusted air conditioner repair and maintenance services with experience and good reviews.

If you need experts to solve your air conditioner issues, look no further than our air-con repair and maintenance services. Here at ALP Heating, our team of professional technicians will provide the best solutions to your system’s problems and leave it in perfect working condition. You can always trust us to deliver the best services every time. Contact us today!