Easy Air Conditioning Repair for the Most Common AC Problems

Easy Air Conditioning Repair for the Most Common AC Problems

Air conditioning repair does not have to be a hassle. When the AC breaks, the first thing that most people do is call a repair guy. After all, on a hot summer day, the last thing anyone wants is to sit around, sweating in a room without proper air conditioning.

Most people don’t know the first thing about air conditioners. So they don’t even realize that they can fix a lot of common problems on their own. You don’t have to wait around for someone else to help you.

If your air conditioner stops working, it’s important to first assess the problem yourself. This way, you can check to see if you can perform an immediate fix by yourself. In the worst case scenario, if you need the help of a professional, you’ll be able to tell them what the problem is! This will help the professional to finish his job even faster.

So if you want to assess the problems of your air conditioner, run through this list of the most common air conditioner problems to find out what’s wrong:

The Most Common Air Conditioning Repair Problems

The Air Conditioning Unit Won’t Turn On

This is usually caused by three issues:

1. Broken thermostat – Check to see if the thermostat is working. If it isn’t, this can cause the entire AC to malfunction. Check out HomeDepot.com to make sure you’re using a reliable, progammable thermostat.
   

   A broken thermostat can cause the entire AC system to malfunction
2. Tripped circuit breakers – Check the circuit breakers near your AC unit. If you think there’s a problem, don’t just reset the breaker right away. Figure out what the problem was first, and then try a reset. If the breaker trips again, you should call a professional to take a look.
3. Clogged vents – The outside unit is vulnerable to nature. Often times, the vents can get clogged up by growing vegetation, grass, dirt, and random debris. Unfortunately, if any debris gets sucked into the vents it can cause damage to the capacitor. If this happened, you will need to call a professional. To prevent clogged vents, it may help to purchase an air conditioner cover.

The AC is Making Strange Noises

Some air conditioning repair problems you can hear loud and clear!

While it’s normal for an AC unit to make some noise while it runs, some noises can indicate a problem. You should be wary of the following noises:

• Vibrations / Rattling – If your AC unit is vibrating or rattling, it is likely that the unit is installed incorrectly. Have a professional check to ensure a proper installation
• Squealing – Some older units are driven by belts rather than motors. A squealing noise can occur when the belt connected to the blower has slipped. If this happens, you should immediately turn off your AC and seek the help of a professional.

The Air Conditioner Is Running Inside, But Isn’t Cooling The House Properly

This is a common air conditioning repair problem. If the AC seems to be working on the inside, your problem may be on the outside. Let’s run through a check list of steps to asses the problem.

1. First, check the unit outside and hold your hand nearby to feel the air. See if you feel any heat leaving the house.
2. Take a look at the two refrigerant lines; there should be a larger and smaller line. Don’t touch the small line it may be hot to touch! and a little one. The larger line is usually colder and should have some condensation on it.

You should have two refrigerant lines: a large one and a small one.

3. If the larger line is frosted, perform the next step. Otherwise, skip the next step.
4. A frosted line means there isn’t proper air flow across the coils of the inside unit. Or the unit is low on refrigerant. Turn the unit off at the thermostat by flipping the switch off, and then turn the fan from “auto” to “on” at all times. This way, the fan will run continuously and shut off the compressor. Once the fan runs for 30 minutes, you can check to see if there’s any improvements in the air flows coming out of the vents. You may also want to consider taking a look at your air filters. If they are dirty, they should probably be replaced.

After several more minutes, turn the thermostat back to a cool temperature. See if your house is cooling, and five minutes later, take another look at the large line outside. If the larger line is cool after that five minute period, your refrigerant level is probably good. This means hot air should be escaping the outside unit. If it’s still only barely cool air, then your refrigerant is probably low.
5. When the large line is not cooler, and the smaller line is not warmer, then you probably have a refrigerant problem or a compressor problem. In both of these cases, you will need to call a professional for repairs.

There’s a Problem with the AC’s Power or Wires

As you constantly turn on and off an air conditioner, it can take a toll on the AC’s compressor and fan controls. Your wires will suffer from corrosion and from general wear and tear. For electrical issues, you’ll often need a professional to stop by and to evaluate the proper solution. Check Lowes.com for any replacement wires needed.

The Thermostat is Not Picking Up the Right Temperature

Indoor air conditioners have a thermostat sensor which measures the temperature of the air that comes into contact with the evaporative coil. If this sensor is bumped out of place, your air conditioner may run erratically. Adjust the sensor by carefully bending the wire that holds it in place. The sensor should be near, but not touching the evaporative coil.

There’s a Problem with Drainage

When the temperature is humid, it may cause clogging in the condensate drain. Check the drain to make sure it isn’t clogged. If it is, make sure the condensate drain is mounted level.

The AC Unit is Low Refrigerant

Your refrigerator needs freon to cool the air. If your AC is low on refrigerant, or freon as it’s often called, it is very likely that you have a leak. Don’t just add more freon. You will often need a trained technician to fix the leak and test if the fix is working. Then he must charge the system with the proper amount of freon. You must make sure that you use the exact amount of refrigerant as recommended by the manufacturer, otherwise even more air conditioning repair problems may arise.

A professional should inspect your AC to see if you have the proper levels of refrigerant

The Air Conditioner’s Outside Fan is Not Working

The outside fan transfers the heat from the inside to the outside.  If the fan outside is not working properly, heat isn’t transferring to the outside and the AC compressor may be

overheating.

The AC Outside Isn’t Even Running

Most likely, the AC isn’t receiving any power. Check to make sure any wires and cords are plugged in and working properly.

The Coil Inside is Frozen

A frozen coil is usually the result of dirty air filters, blocked return air in the ducts, or low freon.

Frozen coils are a common AC problem

For all other repairs, consider calling a repair man. After he gives you a quote, make sure to compare the costs of a repair to the costs of a new air conditioner. Check out the prices of new air conditioners to make sure that the repair is less than the cost of a new unit.

If you still have issues with air conditioning repair, check out these articles for more do it yourself AC solutions.