Air conditioning manufacturers generally are pretty good at making sturdy, well-crafted machines that will last through a lot of use. Air conditioners are hefty machines that are made to survive a lot of wear and tear. Even still, at some point in time, things might go wrong. And you might eventually need air conditioning repair. Austin goes through some fairly extreme temperatures during the year. Our air conditioners are how we battle those temperatures. So it’s understandable that in case of things going wrong, people want swift and effective AC repair. Austin air conditioning service companies like AC Express are here for that reason.
This tip is all about some of the most common problems that can plague your air conditioner. It is comprised of some of the most common and concerning symptoms and issues with your air conditioner. In each section, details will be provided about possible causes to these symptoms and what might have to be done to fix them. The main symptoms of AC issues we’ll be looking at today are water leaks, a lack of cool air, high electricity bills, an AC that constantly cycles on and off, and an AC that doesn’t run at all.
Water Leaks
Water leakage is never a good sign when it comes to your air conditioner. If you see water pooling around your indoor unit, don’t ignore it, but don’t panic either. There’s a good chance this could be a relatively easy fix. Water around the indoor unit means something is either not draining, is leaking, or is dripping. This could likely be a leak around the evaporator coil. The evaporator coil and suction line gather condensation as humidity is pulled from the air. They’re protected by insulation. If this insulation is damaged or improperly attached, this condensation can start dripping.
When it’s particularly humid, you also might have a leak in the condensate drain. This is a drain pan that’s meant to prevent leakage. Check to make sure there isn’t a clog at the condensate drain. If it’s not draining properly, that could be a result of the air conditioner not being mounted level. Or, insects building nests can sometimes clog this drain.
How a water leak will be fixed will depend on the type and extent of the problem. Leaky insulation can be solved simply by replacing the black armaflex insulation around the suction line. A clogged condensate drain might just need to be emptied and cleared out with some high-pressure air. Some of these fixes can be done by yourself and some require a professional. That’s why it’s important that you diagnose the problem before trying any DIY fixes.
Air Doesn’t Get Cool Enough
This is a classic problem that will become immediately obvious once it starts happening, because it means your AC isn’t doing its job. An AC that doesn’t blow cool can be caused by a number of things. Some of these things are dead simple to fix and some might require professional repairs. Because of the wide range of possible causes of a lack of cool air, it’s worth checking a few simple causes of the issue before calling a professional.
First, check the thermostat. Make sure the thermostat is set to the “cooling” setting and that the temperature it’s set to is below the temperature outside. Wait a few minutes before drawing any conclusions as some air conditioners have a built-in timer before changes on the thermostat will take place.
If this didn’t work, the next possible problem could be a clogged condensate pump. Some pumps have a switch that will turn off the outside unit providing cool air if there is a clog. Another common problem that causes your house to not get cool enough is dirty air filters. It doesn’t matter if cold air is being produced if it can’t flow effectively through your houses ductwork. Check the air filters to see if they need to be replaced.
The outside unit might also be the culprit. Check to see if the outside unit is running. If it is, see if it is clogged in any way due to debris such as leaves. Make sure there is a good two feet of space all around the outside unit that is clear of all potentially clogging material. The condenser is also worth checking. Make sure to clean it off and remove any clogging material such as tall weeds or grass.
A more serious problem that can result in the air conditioner blowing air but not cool air is a problem with the refrigerant. If there is a leak or lack of refrigerant, you’ll need to contact a professional to fix the leak and replace the refrigerant.
High Electricity Bill
A high electricity bill itself is tricky because there could be any number of culprits. Some of them are very simple fixes and some are serious problems that can’t be fixed alone. If you’re noticing that your most recent electricity bills are much higher than normal and you can’t contribute this to an increase in air conditioner usage due to the warmer weather, it’s time to start ruling things out.
Diagnosing a high electricity bill problem will be much easier if it happens in conjunction with another symptom such as the others on this list. But if a high electricity bill is the only symptom, there are still plenty of things you can check. First, of course, make sure warm air from outside isn’t getting inside somehow. Check that there aren’t any windows in your house that have been cracked open for long periods of time. Make sure your air filters are clean. Dirty air filters are going to cause your air conditioner to have to work harder and longer to cool your house.
Check your condensing coil. If it’s dirty or clogged with dirt and debris, the air conditioner isn’t going to work efficiently. There is also the possibility that there is a faulty wiring within the thermostat. If your thermostat is set to cool and to a reasonable temperature but your air conditioner still seems to run more often than it should, there might be a problem with the thermostat itself. Check to make sure there isn’t warm air coming from your AC vents. This will require professional AC repair.
It’s also possible that your home just has poor insulation. This is a problem that can easily cause your energy bills to be too high. Unfortunately, this issue is outside the realm of an Austin air conditioning company and will require more extensive house expenses.
AC Cycles On and Off
Sometimes, you might notice that your air conditioner turns on and off more often than it should. This can be both the cause and effect of many different things. It can cause your house to never get down to the temperature you set it at and it can cause your electricity bills to run higher than normal.
The cause of this symptom could be number of things. One of those things is improper thermostat placement. If the thermostat is in a place that gets hotter than most of the house, such as near an oven, in a place with a lot of direct sunlight, or near another appliance that runs hot, it’s going to register a temperature that is higher than the rest of the house actually is and it is going to tell the air conditioner to run more than it needs to. If your thermostat is in a place that’s cooler than most of the house, the opposite effect will take place.
A dirty or blocked condenser unit or a dirty evaporator coil can also cause your air conditioner to switch on and off more frequently. Luckily this can be an easy fix. Simply cleaning the indoor unit components and removing any clogs or obstructions can fix the issue.
There are a number of other causes of an air conditioner that runs and cycles continuously. If the indoor unit is switched off but the outdoor unit continues to run, turn the breakers off so that the outdoor unit stops receiving power and call a professional. If your air conditioner is too big for the amount of room in your home it will cool the house, switch off, and switch back on too frequently. Low refrigerant levels and faulty switches can also cause continuous air conditioner running.
AC Doesn’t Run at All
An AC unit that doesn’t run at all, like a high electricity bill or an air conditioner that turns on and off too frequently, could be the symptom of a wide range of issues. Some of these are specific to the air conditioner itself, and some might be related to the power in your home in general.
The first thing to check is if you’re getting any power at all. During a power outage, it’s likely you’ll notice that your house isn’t getting power. The most common cause of an air conditioner that doesn’t run is a lack of power to the unit. Check the breakers for your air conditioner and make sure they didn’t get turned off somehow and that there isn’t any blown fuse.
If your thermostat is defective somehow, this might also cause the air conditioner to not run. Faulty wiring in the thermostat could cause it to be unable to send the signal to your AC unit to switch on. This would require the work of a professional.
If it’s just the outdoor unit that’s not running check to see if there is a red reset button. If so, try resetting the unit. If the compressor has a failure, the air conditioner will not run. This could be a costly repair that would require the help of a professional air conditioning repair company.
AC Solutions and AC Repair in Austin
As you can see, a lot can go wrong when it comes to your air conditioner. These are just a few of the most common symptoms that you might experience when something with your air conditioner goes wrong. As well built as most air conditioner are these days, they contain a lot parts which do a lot of work over a long period of time and occasionally, things go wrong. In some cases, the fix is as simple as replacing air filters. In other cases, costly repair might be in order.
In any case, air conditioning repair in Austin doesn’t have to be a hassle or a headache. AC Express is an Austin AC repair company that has the experience and professional expertise to quickly diagnose any problem, fix any symptom, and quickly get you the fix you need as inexpensively as possible. If you’re experiencing any issue with your air conditioner, call AC Express today!
