Don’t Get Caught Off Guard By These 7 Common AC Problems

Whether it’s a loss of cooling, strange noises coming from the system, or low airflow, you can face the following problems by neglecting repair needs:

• Broken Down Compressor: This is the heart of your air conditioner, and neglecting its needs could leave you facing a premature AC unit replacement before summer is even over. When other parts fail, it can tip the circuit breaker, or blow out your capacitor. This, along with your fan motor and condenser coils are among the most common problems AC units face.
• Costly Utility Bills: When you ignore things like low airflow or a system that doesn’t seem to be cooling as much as it should, you’re probably ignoring damaged ductwork or, even worse, reduced refrigerant levels from a refrigerant leak. As a result, your air conditioner will work harder than it has to, costing you more in the long run.
• Frozen Coils: Ice is never a normal part of the cooling process. It’s caused by a problem within the air conditioner, and creates subsequent issues if not dealt with right away—and no, you should never try to remove or thaw ice from your AC yourself as you can damage the coil. Evaporator coils are integral for your air conditioning unit, and your outdoor unit icing over and having frozen coils is something regular maintenance can help prevent, such as what’s performed during a tune-up in Oak Grove MO, Olathe KS, St. Joseph MO and more.
• Dirty Air Filter: This one is especially unfortunate because it’s so easy to prevent from happening in the first place. If you don’t change the dirty air filter in your air conditioner every three months or so while you’re using the system on a regular basis (summer) then it has the potential to become clogged. A clogged air filter will prevent most of the air in the ducts from making it into your air conditioner, which will in turn cause your evaporator coil to freeze. If this happens, the immediate effect will be to prevent the air conditioner from cooling properly. The long-term effects are more serious. The ice can spread down the refrigerant line to other parts of the system and cause them to break down as well. If you notice ice building up on your evaporator coil, you should have it looked at by a professional technician as quickly as possible.
• Clogged Drain Line: Condensate drain lines need to be open and free of obstruction. Debris can build up over time and cause the condensate drain line to clog and damage the system, and HVAC services know this is an important part of your home’s AC unit.
• Low Refrigerant/Freon: If the coolant or freon in your system is leaking or low, then your air conditioner has to work that much harder, and eventually these problems can destroy the system. Common causes are the lines simply starting to break down over time, including those that go from the condenser unit, indoor central air unit, and outdoor unit.
• Premature System Replacement: Depending on how well it’s installed and cared for, the average air conditioner should last about 10-15 years. But if you skip maintenance or delay repairs, this might not be the case.