An air conditioner is a must-have appliance for homeowners who live where summer temperatures reach triple digits. It's important that you start thinking about your air conditioner now so that you can perform any necessary maintenance before the cooling season is in full swing.
Many homeowners share some common problems with their air conditioners, so knowing how to troubleshoot these issues will help you better maintain your air conditioner this year.
Unit Doesn't Produce Cool Air
When you turn your air conditioner on, you expect cool air to circulate throughout your home. Take the time to test your air conditioner now to see if it is functioning properly. If the air conditioner doesn't blow cold air after it has been tuned up and readied for the cooling season, you may have a problem with the refrigerant levels in the unit itself.
Refrigerant plays a vital role in the cooling process. The plastic tubes that transport coolant in an air conditioner can crack or deteriorate over time. This leads to refrigerant leaks that will compromise the performance of your AC unit.
Contact an HVAC specialist for help if you suspect low refrigerant levels are preventing your air conditioner from blowing cool air into your home.
Blower Fan Doesn't Rotate
An air conditioner is equipped with a blower that helps move cooled air into the ducts within your home. This fan is powered by a motor that requires regular maintenance to work properly.
There are many things that can impact the blower motor in a negative way. Condensation can lead to corrosion, and loose bushings can damage the motor itself. If you can't see your fan blades spinning when you have the air conditioner turned on, you will need to pinpoint the cause of the problem and have an experienced HVAC specialist make the necessary repairs.
Unit Turns On and Off Repeatedly
Your air conditioner should not be turning on and off constantly throughout the day. If it does, it is short-cycling. An air conditioner can start to short-cycle for many reasons, but the most common is a dirty condenser or evaporator coil.
Take the time to give your outdoor condenser unit a thorough cleaning before you run your air conditioner this cooling season so that you can prevent short-cycling and the excess energy usage associated with it.
Air conditioning maintenance is important if you want your home's interior to remain cool and comfortable. Start diagnosing problems now so that you can have them repaired before the summer heat hits your area.
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