When the weather’s warm in the metro Phoenix area, a working AC is essential for any home! So what happens when the temperature’s rising in your house, but your air conditioning won’t turn on? Here are 7 common air conditioner problems that Ideal Energy sees when we make AC repair calls to homes in Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, and beyond.
1. Power issue
One of the first things an experienced AC service technician will check is the power source. Sometimes there’s not even anything wrong with your cooling unit itself, but a circuit breaker has tripped or you’ve blown a fuse. Resetting your breaker can help determine if this is what’s going on in your home.
2. Clogged condensate drain line
Your AC’s condensate drain line gets rid of excess moisture and water created by the evaporator. Sometimes this drain line can grow algae or mold or get clogged with dirt, to the point where it’s completely blocked. Your AC system will kick up its safety switch and turn your system completely off in order to prevent your drain pan from over-filling with water and potentially causing a water leak in your home. A HVAC professional can clear your drain line and get your cooling system running again.Â
3. Dirty air filter
Your HVAC system’s air filters help keep the air circulating in your home clean and free of pollutants and contaminants, but they need to be changed regularly. As more and more particulates are caught in the filter, air flow will slow. If your air filter goes long enough without being cleaned or replaced, you cause your evaporator coils to freeze, which then turns your AC system completely off.
4. Issue with thermostat
Is your thermostat broken? Are you sure it’s set to the “cool” setting and not “heat”? Have you tried replacing the batteries, or checking to see if the circuit breaker your thermostat is connected to has tripped? Is your wifi down and is the reason your wifi thermostat isn’t communicating with your air conditioner? It may seem like a no-brainer, but there are a number of different small ways that your thermostat can interfere and even prevent your AC from running. Before you start looking in the wrong place, it doesn’t hurt to double check!
5. Broken AC motor
The fan motor in your AC could be on its last legs. This is even more likely the case if your air conditioning was making strange noises before it stopped turning on. AC motors can be expensive to replace—a service technician from Ideal Energy can evaluate your system and give you their recommendation on whether it would be the most cost effective to repair your existing unit or schedule new, high efficiency air conditioning installation.
6. Dirty evaporator coils
Your AC’s evaporator coils are magnets for dust and dirt. When they get too dirty, your AC efficiency drops, your coils could freeze, and you could end up clogging your condensate drain line. Regular AC maintenance for your cooling system can help keep your AC coils clean and efficient.
7. Refrigerant leak
There shouldn’t ever be a reason to need to mess with or “top off” your AC unit’s refrigerant levels, unless there’s a freon leak. These leaks can actually be health hazards, in addition to causing your cooling system to malfunction, and is the type of repair work that should be left to an HVAC professional. Not to mention, systems with refrigerant leaks will cause your cooling electric bills to spike.
Regular AC Maintenance Will Keep You Cool and Comfortable
The best way to avoid AC breakdowns and rising energy bills is by scheduling regular tune-ups for your air conditioning. Spring is a great time to call a service technician to your home for a maintenance and safety inspection of your AC that will keep your home comfortable all summer long and help you avoid costly emergency repairs.
At Ideal Energy, our NATE-certified technicians are AC experts, and follow all ACCA guidelines for air conditioning maintenance services. We even offer a maintenance program that includes automatically scheduled tune-up visits and discounts on service.Â