Most homeowners don’t give their air conditioning systems a lot of thought on a day to day basis. Nevertheless, when it’s hot outside here in Central Ohio, we do expect our HVAC units to keep us nice and cool and cozy. At Greater Columbus Furnace & Air Conditioning, we understand that A/C units are usually overlooked until they break down or need some kind of work performed. As such, we put together a list of some of the more prevalent things that could be happening if your A/C is giving you problems:
Common Reasons Why Air Conditioners Break Down
- Faulty thermostat. If your thermostat starts failing, your A/C usually cycles off and on frequently — if it at all. In these types of problems, it’s normally time to consider a thermostat upgrade. Having us install a smart or programmable thermostat will pay for itself in energy savings.
- Neglecting regular maintenance. Regular maintenance is essential to every air conditioner’s efficiency, lifespan and performance. Having an NATE-certified technician visit your home will help you address minor issues before they become greater problems that cost a lot more to fix. While performing maintenance, our technicians clean your air conditioning coils and examine your equipment. Neglecting to have your system maintained often voids any warranties from the A/C’s manufacturer.
- Coils Freeze Up. Dirty air filters (which need to be replaced regularly regardless) or clogged ductwork can produce airflow problems in your system, which can lead to frozen coils. Regularly cleaning or replacing your air filter and keeping your ductwork free and clear are two essential rules to follow to avoid getting a frozen coil.
- Low Refrigerant Levels. Air conditioner refrigerants are dangerous, or hazardous and toxic. As such, leakage should be identified and repaired immediately and the refrigerant should be recharged by a technician with proper training, skill and insurance as soon as feasible. When your refrigerant levels are depleted, your air conditioner will not function properly.
- Compressor damage, fan blade issues, and electrical connection issues. When an A/C compressor goes bad, it is usually the result of underlying issues that are placing stress on the system. These problems could include dirty coils, low refrigerant levels, electrical problems, fan blade issues, and more. As such, here is yet another reason why annual maintenance is so indispensable. Our technicians can recognize worn out and damaged parts before you find yourself in need of emergency repairs.
- Defective circuit breaker or fuse. One of the first things that you need to check if your air conditioner fails is your circuit breaker or its fuse. Be sure to give it 10 to 15 minutes to let your air conditioner cool. Then, replace the fuse or reset the breaker and find out if that’s the cause of the problem. If neither of these efforts fixes the problem, you could have tripped something known as a “high-pressure limit switch.” In such situations, we strongly urge homeowners to give us a call.
REACH OUT TO US FOR ALL YOUR HVAC NEEDS!For more information on our Five Start Rated, affordable A/C services, call Greater Columbus Furnace & Air Conditioning today at (614) 245-3025, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
