Some Common Air Conditioner Problems With Regular Maintenance

Posted on: November 18, 2016
By: Alan O'Neill
Posted in: Air Conditioning

Air Conditioner With Regular Maintenance In Houston Homeowners

Air conditioner maintenance saves you money by increasing its efficiency and preventing breakdowns.Either pull out a block or move a switch to the off position. If uncertain, turn off the power to the AC at the main electrical panel.Air conditioning controls the temperature and humidity in a building, most commonly in warm conditions, but to fully understand how to maintain your unit you first need to be aware of how air conditioning works.

Air conditioning is, of necessity, a split system, with some components installed outdoors and others indoors. The heaviest, noisiest, heat-shedding components – the compressor and condenser coil – are installed outdoors, while the evaporator coil is installed indoors, usually in the form of an A-frame in the plenum of a forced-air furnace.

Air Conditioning Problems With Regular Maintenance

As with any other machinery or home appliance, air conditioning (AC) systems will eventually be affected by the wear and tear that comes with regular use and age. When they stop functioning at their fullest efficiency, most of us are at a complete loss, since we need them to help keep our homes comfortable throughout the year.

However, you can take some simple preventive measures to nip most of the commonly-experienced air conditioning issues in the bud, which reduce the occurrence of problems and thus allow you to enjoy the comfort of properly-functioning units.

Identifying & Solving Common Air Conditioning Problems

Here are some common issues that most people face with their AC units at some point or the other, as well as basic maintenance practices that you can follow to keep them at bay:

1. Running AC Unit Doesn’t Cool Properly

Since just about every part of an air AC unit is primarily designed for cooling, there can be a number of reasons causing this issue:

Dirt, soot and debris restrict the airflow through the unit, causing blockages and reducing its cooling capacity.

Solution : Check the filters periodically and clean or replace them every three months, or as per the manufacturer’s recommendations. You could also set up a regular cleaning and maintenance schedule with a professional AC service provider who will be able to advise you on the required frequency of cleaning.

Another likely cause is the heat exchanger on the condenser unit getting clogged, which reduces the unit’s ability to cool and reduces efficiency.

Solution : Clean the radiator on the external unit (on the part facing outside for single-unit ACs). Be sure to disconnect the power before cleaning and leave it off for a while, until the unit is completely dry. The fins are extremely sharp, so make sure you use protective gloves and proper equipment for this task.

The refrigerant gas is the medium that removes excess heat from the room, so if there isn’t enough, your air conditioner won’t be able to cool properly.

Solution : Leaks of refrigerant fluid can often be prevented by regularly cleaning the entire unit and scheduling an annual maintenance regimen. If you suspect low refrigerant pressure, it’s usually best to call a professional rather than attempting to tackle the problem yourself.

2. Run Cycles are Too Short or Too Long

Inconsistent running cycles are one of the most common problems reported in air conditioners. They are often caused by dirt or debris caught in the outdoor unit (condenser) or the indoor unit (evaporator), which can cause multiple issues: 

Dirt causes the thermostats (temperature sensors) in the unit to cool or heat up rapidly, leading to shorter or longer run cycles. In extreme cases, the evaporator coils can even ‘ice-over.’

Apart from the lower efficiency and cooling capacity, the unit struggles to maintain an appropriate temperature, which increases wear and as a result, effectively reduces its service lifespan.

Solution (for both issues) : Clean the affected areas of the evaporator and the condenser thoroughly and regularly. Periodic cleaning does more than improve the operating efficiency and cooling capacity; it also increases the life of the system, reducing the need for frequent repairs. Read full article here…

The Benefits Of Air Conditioner With Regular Maintenance

Regular maintenance can reduce stress on your system. That will help it last longer and extend its lifetime by months or even years in some cases. Maintenance sessions address a lot of little issues that tend to rob your air conditioner of its efficiency. Tightened bolts, recharged refrigerant and the like can translate to lower monthly bills.Call (713) 812-7070 us for your home service and repair needs.

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