If there’s a single time when it’s most inconvenient for an air conditioner to break down, it’s in the middle of summer. Unfortunately, that’s exactly when most air conditioning problems occur. The higher demand you place on your air conditioner during the summer months makes it more likely for various issues to crop up. If you want to limit the amount of damage your system can take from any possible problems, you need to be able to catch them early. The best way to do that is to know which symptoms indicate an issue with your air conditioner.
Refrigerant Leaks
Your air conditioner cools your home by evaporating refrigerant in the indoor unit to absorb thermal energy. The refrigerant gas is then condensed back into liquid in the outdoor unit to vent the collected heat outside. The system doesn’t consume refrigerant during this process, and relies on the same refrigerant it receives upon installation throughout its entire life. If a leak develops in your refrigerant line, it will cause exponentially increasing problems for the air conditioner. The output capacity of the system will drop as the amount of available refrigerant decreases. Eventually, the refrigerant level will drop too low for the air conditioner to keep operating and it will break down. If you notice liquid dripping from your air conditioner, make sure that you call for repairs as soon as possible.
Air Handler Issues
The air handler is the part of the air conditioner responsible for circulating air throughout the home during operation. It’s comprised largely of a motor with a fan attached to it. The air handler has a lot of friction put on it while it’s operating. It takes a lot of effort to move air in such large amounts, after all. In order to help it cope with this, the air handler is equipped with a number of oiled bearings. The bearings will wear down over time, though. As the bearings begin to fail, the friction on the air handler will increase and the system will begin to give off a loud grinding sound. Have a professional take a look at your system if you hear this sound, as the motor may burn out if the bearings are not quickly replaced.
Short Cycling
On occasion, an electrical short between the thermostat and the air conditioner may result in the system turning on and off every few minutes. This behavior is called short cycling, and it’s a serious threat to the air conditioner. Short cycling causes the air conditioner to wear down much faster than it normally does, which makes problems more likely to occur. If the air conditioner is left to short cycle for long periods of time, the added wear and tear can shorten the lifespan of the system significantly. Call for repairs immediately if you notice your air conditioner doing this.
Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling provides a full range of air conditioning repair services in Ambler, PA. If you need air conditioning repair services of any kind, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.