Troubleshooting: Air Conditioners

Nobody expects a typical homeowner to be an air conditioning expert, but it does help to have enough basic knowledge to make an educated guess about the problem when your A/C isn’t working properly or breaks down.

Following are some common problems that happen with residential air conditioners:

Inadequate Cooling

This either can stem from poor airflow (not enough air is circulating to cool your home) or from a problem with the cooling process itself.

• Poor airflow: If air coming out of registers feels as cool as it usually does, but your rooms are still taking an unusually long time to cool off, a lack of airflow is probably the issue. Check the air filter to make sure it’s not clogged, clear vents, and registers, and inspect accessible ductwork for leaks or breaks. If the problem is with the blower motor or compressor, call in a professional.
• The air isn’t being cooled: Check the thermostat to make sure it’s set to cooling with the fan on “Auto.” Otherwise, this could be the result of a lack of airflow from the blower or air handler, inadequate refrigerant, or dirty cooling coils. If the coils are dirty, the heat exchange that’s vital to home cooling will be adversely affected.

The A/C Won’t Run at All

Check the breaker box to make sure the circuit hasn’t tripped or blown. If that’s not the problem, it could be any of a variety of issues, ranging from a disabled blower motor to a malfunctioning compressor to coils that have frozen up.

To avoid having to troubleshoot air conditioner problems, take preventative measures such as annual professional maintenance for your A/C, regular homeowner maintenance such as checking and changing air filters, and using a bit of common sense. If the temperature outside is near 100, don’t try to cool your home to 68 degrees 24/7. This can damage the system. Give your A/C a break, and use ceiling fans to help with home cooling.

If you need help diagnosing or fixing an air conditioner problem in your Coastal Bend home, please contact us at CCAC, Inc.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air conditioners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.

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