3 AC Problems That Can Be Prevented With Maintenance
When it comes to your air conditioner, a little bit of maintenance can go a long way. Catching issues early can keep them from becoming more significant, and more expensive later on. Prevent these common issues by following these AC maintenance tips from LIBERTYAIR Air Conditioning & Heating.
If a problem does arise, contact our HVAC company when you need to schedule professional air conditioner repairs.
Air Conditioner Not Turning On
Living without working AC can be a nightmare for anyone living in Florida, but the cause may be an easy fix if you know what to look for. First, check your thermostat. If the display is showing a battery icon or nothing at all, dead batteries are probably the culprit. If you don’t have a digital display, try removing the batteries and replacing them with new ones.
If that doesn’t work, check to make sure that your circuit breaker hasn’t popped. If it has, turn it back to the on position. If the breaker keeps popping, it’s best to contact a professional who can identify the issue and prevent more severe damage. With either of these scenarios, it’s essential to give the AC a few minutes to come back on before contacting an AC company.
AC Not Blowing Cold Air
If your AC is on but isn’t blowing cold air, it’s most likely due to poor airflow stemming from the filter. To avoid this, change your air filter often and ensure that you are using a filter with the correct MERV rating. This information should be located on your AC unit, but it’s best to contact a professional if you are unsure. You can also consider in-duct air filters, which can help filter more efficiently.
If your AC is blowing cold air only some of the time, it might be due to a refrigerant leak. While there’s not much that you can do for the leak yourself, routinely inspecting the AC unit for any signs of a leak can prevent worse problems from developing. Because the refrigerant is such a vital part of a working AC, catching leaks early means that you’ll avoid more severe damage.
AC Stops Working After Awhile
If your AC turns on and works fine for a little while then stops out of nowhere, the evaporator coil might be frozen. The evaporator coil is a vital part of your AC system that removes heat from your home’s air. Several issues can cause a frozen evaporator coil, including a dirty filter, blocked vents or ductwork, or a faulty fan.
While there isn’t much you can do about the last two, you can regularly keep a clean filter installed in your unit to ensure that’s not the cause. If the filter is clean, you’ll need to consult with an HVAC technician to see the underlying cause. You might also want to consider ductless air conditioning, which is perfect for homes with old ductwork or for home renovations.
Taking the time to inspect your AC unit and being familiar with common issues can help save you time and money.