How to Deal with Frequent AC Breakdowns
How to Deal with Frequent AC Breakdowns
Guirguis Faltaos
The last thing you need on a hot summer day is for your air conditioner to stop working. Without your air conditioner, your house can become uncomfortable quickly. If you have individuals in your home who are part of a vulnerable population, such as the elderly, infirm, or children, not having an air conditioner can actually be a health risk.
Why Do Air Conditioners Fail?
An HVAC technician is the best person to diagnose why your air conditioner is failing. However, you should be aware of a few common issues your air conditioner may experience.
Dirty HVAC Filter
A dirty HVAC filter can cause issues with your air conditioner. If your air conditioner is not cooling or if you notice that the evaporator coil is freezing, different air conditioners need to have their filters changed at different intervals. Factors that influence how frequently the filter should be changed include the manufacturer’s instructions, the length of time you run your air conditioner, and the pollution level in the outside air and contaminants inside your home. The more frequently you run your air conditioner, the more frequently the filter must be changed. During your annual HVAC inspection, have your HVAC technician talk to you about how frequently you should be changing the filters and recommend the best filters for your air conditioner and environment.
Malfunctioning Thermostat
A malfunctioning thermostat can disrupt your air conditioner’s operation. The thermostat is the brain of your air conditioner. If it does not work correctly, it will not signal your air conditioner to activate or bring your home down to a predetermined temperature. To ensure that the thermostat for your HVAC system is working correctly, check the batteries. This sounds like a very simple issue, but when HVAC technicians receive trouble calls for thermostats, it often turns out to be a low battery. Another simple issue that causes big problems is ensuring that the thermostat is set to “cool” mode. If you’ve done these things and your air conditioner is still not working, then you’ll need to talk to your HVAC technician and allow them to do some extra troubleshooting to find and repair the issue.
A Damaged Evaporator Coil
A damaged evaporator coil can compromise an HVAC system’s efficiency. The evaporator coil sits inside your home. It’s what absorbs the heat and humidity that’s in the outside air. The evaporator coil then sends colder air into your house through the ductwork. If the evaporator coil gets dirty, it will not be able to absorb heat and humidity as it should. This can make the temperature in your house very uncomfortable. During annual maintenance, your HVAC technician should clean your evaporator coil. Although hardware stores offer kits for cleaning the evaporator coil, it’s not recommended to do this independently. The evaporator coil is made from very thin copper and can be easily damaged or bent, which will negatively impact the functioning of your air conditioner.
Refrigerant Leaks
Refrigerant leaks can lead to air conditioner breakdowns. The refrigerant in your air conditioner runs on a closed circuit. If there is no issue with your air conditioner, the refrigerant should never be topped off. However, if there is a refrigerant leak, you will feel a rise in your home’s temperature and humidity level. In many cases, a refrigerant leak can be repaired, but in some cases, the damage is so great that the condenser, evaporator coil, or compressor may need to be replaced. Your HVAC technician may recommend considering replacing the entire unit. Refrigerant is dangerous, and so it’s not something that you want to try to replace on your own.
A Damaged Capacitor
A damaged capacitor can affect the operation of your air conditioner. The capacitor powers your air conditioner’s motors, compressors, and fans. The capacitor sends a jolt of electricity to tell the motors to start running. It also sends a series of jolts so that the motor continues to run. If the capacitor is damaged, the air conditioner will not run efficiently or might not run at all. You will need an HVAC technician to identify if the capacitor is damaged and whether a simple repair is enough or if the equipment needs to be completely replaced.
Quality Heating and Cooling in Fairfax, VA
Since 2001, our team at Eagles HVAC Services has served our community. We take pride in the level of workmanship we provide. Something that separates us from our competition is our client-focused approach. Our customers have been and will always be our number one priority.
Our service includes HVAC repair, installation, and maintenance. We offer ductless air conditioning and install heat pumps and boilers. We also offer indoor air quality and install water heaters. Contact Eagles HVAC Services today, and let us use our customer-centric approach to serve you.