Common Air Conditioner Problems

When problems develop with the air conditioner, your comfortable home can quickly become unbearably hot and sticky. Getting the issue fixed doesn’t necessarily require a visit from an HVAC technician, though. Here are some helpful tips on how to solve four common problems on your own, along with advice on when to call for expert help.

• The condenser doesn’t cycle on. A loss of power can cause this, so make sure your A/C unit is plugged in first, then check the main electrical panel for a tripped breaker or blown fuse. Next, try lowering the thermostat temperature setting by five degrees. If these fixes don’t work, you may have a faulty motor or bad compressor, so have a pro investigate further.
• The air doesn’t cool down sufficiently. If the temperature in your home never seems to reach the thermostat setting, it may not be calibrated properly, so try lowering the setting by a few degrees to see if this helps. If the problem persists, have a trained technician evaluate the thermostat, and look for other possible culprits like a dirty evaporator coil or incorrect equipment sizing.
• The A/C runs, but doesn’t cool. This may be due to insufficient airflow, so head outside and check the condenser unit. Gently hose down the coil, and clear away anything that’s blocking airflow, like yard debris, tall grass and weeds. If the unit still doesn’t start up, have your HVAC contractor give the coil a thorough cleaning and check for compressor problems or a low refrigerant level.
• The air conditioner cycles on and off too often. Airflow restrictions are frequently the cause of short cycling, so check for and remove any obstructions around the outdoor condenser first. If there’s no improvement, your HVAC technician may need to clean the condenser and evaporator coils or inspect the system for other issues.

At Sobieski Services, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about energy and home comfort issues — especially HVAC and plumbing issues — so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.

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