Is your AC broken and looking for an AC repair professional? Before you do it, it’s important you know about the different AC problems that your unit might be having and how to fix them. To help shed more light on the topic, here are some of the most common AC problems and their solutions:
AC not turning on
Can you imagine coming back from work in the middle of the day to a stale-smelling house? It’s frustrating, isn’t it?
You think the AC might be off, but it’s in the right direction on looking at the ON switch. You turn the thermostat to a lower temperature, but still, the AC won’t engage and prevents your AC from turning on.
What could be the problem? You wonder.
In most cases, this happens due to a tripped circuit breaker. Other reasons that will prevent your AC from turning on are a faulty thermostat or loose wiring.
To fix this problem, you need to find out the underlying cause.
If the circuit breaker has tripped, reset it. If you have had your thermostat for a long time and it’s the source of the problem, get a new one.
If the problem is due to loose wiring, don’t try to repair them on your own, as you can easily burn down the house. Instead, hire an experienced HVAC professional such as AC repair in Miami FL to fix it.
Refrigerant leaking
This is one of the most intractable problems for homeowners to detect as the leaks often happen in the coolant lines. A telltale sign that you have a refrigerant leak is brightly colored stains near the AC.
Most homeowners add refrigerant to the air conditioner, but this isn’t enough—you need to find the leak’s location and fix it.
When adding the refrigerant, be precise about the amount you add, as it should be at the manufacturer’s recommended level.
When it comes to fixing the leak, it’s always recommended you hire a professional to do it, but if you believe in your skills and you have a small AC system, you can buy a Freon leak repair kit from your local store and use it to fix the leak.
The sealant is sucked through the system by the compressor, and in the process, you seal the small leaks.
Weird AC smells
Have you noticed musty smells coming from the vents or close to the main AC unit? They are often a result of water collecting in the HVAC box and bacteria building up in them. The foul odor coming from here resembles urine or vinegar, which can be off-putting.
Sometimes you might be having weird smells due to leaking antifreeze, rotting birds or animals, an old filter, or any other reason.
You cannot tell the exact source of the problem without inspecting the unit, so ask an experienced professional to give it a look.
If you have a burning smell, it could be the AC wires burning, and this should be catastrophic not only to your unit but also to your entire house.
To fix this problem, you need to find the source of the problem. If the smells are due to accumulated water, find out the reason for the water logging and fix it.
Are the smells due to a dirty air filter? Clean it or get a new one.
If the smells are from burning wires, immediately switch off the AC and get it in touch with an AC repair professional.
AC blowing hot air
The AC is supposed to blow cold air, so if it’s blowing hot air, you have a serious problem in your hands that you should fix as soon as possible.
The air conditioner will blow hot air instead of cold air due to dirty air filters, obstructed ducts, low refrigerant levels, or debris causing the compressor to overheat.
Like with the other problems, there is no way to tell the cause of the problem without inspecting the air conditioner. If it has been a long since you cleaned the air filters, clean them or replace them if too old or dirty.
Are the refrigerant levels too low? Inspect the unit for leaks and fix them before adding refrigerant to the unit.
If the issue is due to obstructed ducts, remove the obstructing material but don’t stop there. Go around the entire unit and remove any debris and leaves present.
Weak air conditioner
Have you noticed that your air conditioner isn’t as efficient as it used to? Does it take longer times to cool the house than usual? The air conditioner is most likely clogged.
The indoor and outdoor units work together to remove heat from the house, but there should be unrestricted airflow between the units for them to do it efficiently.
To restore the air conditioner to proper working condition, you need to inspect the outdoor unit and, if clogged, remove the clogging material.
AC running constantly
The AC will run more often during hot days, but still, it should turn off now and then. If your AC doesn’t stop running even after the temperatures have dropped, you have a problem you need to fix as soon as possible to save the life of the appliance and keep your energy bill low.
Your AC will constantly run due to problems with the compressor, thermostat, air filters, or electrical parts.
You can inspect the AC on your own to find out the source of the problem or hire a professional to help out.
Weird AC noises
It’s normal for the AC to make some humming noises when running, but the noises shouldn’t be too loud that you are having a problem concentrating or sleeping.
When your AC is making grinding, squealing, or vibrating noises, look into them as soon as possible as the appliance might damage expensive internal parts.
Get in touch with a qualified and experienced AC expert to help find the underlying problem and fix it. During the inspection, the technician should look at the belts, bearings, compressor motor, and other problematic areas.
