Don’t Let These 4 Air Conditioning Issues Ruin Your Summer
Ah, summer… the days are longer, the weather is warmer, and if you’re lucky enough to have central air conditioning, your home is likely a place of refuge from the hot Virginia temperatures. But what do you do if you’re trying to escape the heat and your AC fails to function? The first instinct of many is to expect the worst: replace your entire AC system.
However, there are several less serious repairs that can be rather easily made to get the cold air pumping through your home once more. Common air conditioning issues that can be fixed include improving the airflow, ensuring a proper power supply, cleaning the coils, and recharging the refrigerant.
Four reasons your AC isn’t working
- Improper airflow. Air conditionings require unobstructed airflow to function properly. Check your HVAC system for a collapsed duct, inspect (and possibly replace) the air filter, or head to the outside AC unit and make sure it’s not clogged with debris. Any of these items can fall victim to disrepair or be in need of replacement to get the AC running correctly again.
- Improper power supply. You should also check to make sure your home’s electricity source feeding the air conditioning is not underpowered. You might want to consider running the AC on its own breaker to ensure it is getting an adequate power supply.
- Dust and debris are clogging the coils. If dust or debris block the refrigerant coils, it can cause the air to get trapped within the system, which leads to the AC unit freezing. The dustier the AC unit, the worse your problem will be and the longer it will take for the unit to return to normal. Dust blocking the coils acts as an insulator and can lead to a buildup of ice within the unit, creating a vicious cycle as the air continues to force itself through the system.
- The refrigerant is low. Your AC needs a healthy amount of refrigerant to work properly. If there isn’t enough refrigerant in the system, the air conditioning will not be able to perform its main duties of cooling and compressing the air. Low refrigerant usually means there’s a leak, which needs to be fixed as well. To replace the refrigerant, you will need a professional’s help, as exposure to refrigerant without proper precautions can be extremely hazardous.
Have an HVAC professional fix your AC
If you notice any of these issues or ice build-up around your AC unit, act quickly to resolve the problem! Turn off your thermostat to stop the AC while leaving the fan on to start melting the ice. Change out the air filter and take note if this seems to be a cause of the damage. And whatever you do, don’t let the problem go unresolved.
Call Robert B. Payne, Inc. for help as soon as possible to prevent catastrophic and potentially unfixable damage to your air conditioning system. Schedule an appointment today by dialing 540-373-5876.