Air conditioning is a necessity in the summer. Regular maintenance can save you money on your energy bills and ensure that your system is working effectively.
This article will explain how your AC works, simple at-home fixes, and signs of issues that require immediate AC repair. Regular maintenance by a skilled technician can prevent breakdowns, improve efficiency, and extend the lifespan of your unit. Contact Ausco Air Heating & Air Conditioning for professional help.
The thermostat is the brain of your AC system. It sends information to the compressor, fan, and evaporator coil, controlling when your home is cool or hot. It works on a basic principle: heat causes a metal strip to expand. The expansion tells the thermostat to turn the HVAC on or off. A professional air conditioning service provider can check your thermostat to make sure it is operating correctly and can perform any repairs if needed.
A clogged filter can block airflow through the unit, which makes it work harder to cool your house. If you suspect yours is clogged, change it and see if that fixes the problem. It’s also important to keep the vents and registers open in every room to allow airflow. If they are blocked, it’s possible your AC is working overtime and wearing out faster than it should.
If you have a digital thermostat, check the battery. A low battery can cause the unit to malfunction or even shut off entirely. It’s easy to replace a battery in most digital units. Older mechanical thermostats, however, require you to remove the cover and inspect wires. Look for loose connections or corroded ones, and tighten them with needle nose pliers or a screwdriver.
If you can’t find the problem with a simple battery replacement, it may be time to call for AC repair. However, it’s a good idea to schedule annual maintenance so problems don’t arise before they can be repaired. If you skip routine AC tune-ups, cleanings, and inspections, serious issues can develop. These problems can also be very expensive to fix.
Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil is an essential part of your air conditioner. Its job is to absorb heat from your indoor air, before cycling it throughout your home. However, this process can be compromised by a dirty or malfunctioning evaporator coil. Fortunately, you can catch these problems early with regular maintenance and inspections.
One clear sign that your evaporator coil may be failing is reduced cooling efficiency. A bad coil can’t efficiently absorb heat, leaving your house feeling warm despite the air conditioning running at full blast. Another telltale sign is an unexplained increase in energy bills. If you notice excessive frost or ice buildup on your coil, it can also indicate poor performance and a lack of refrigerant.
Finally, a broken or poorly functioning evaporator coil can cause your system to leak refrigerant. This means that it’s time to call for an AC repair technician. Leaking refrigerant is dangerous to handle, and it can also damage the rest of your HVAC unit.
A qualified AC repair technician will be able to diagnose and fix the problem quickly. They will replace the faulty coil and ensure that your system is properly recharged with refrigerant, improving its energy efficiency. They’ll also clean the coil, removing any dirt or debris that has built up over time. This prevents cracking and leaks, extending the lifespan of your AC system.
Condenser Coil
The condenser coil is like the lungs of your AC system. If they can’t breathe, your entire system suffers. The air that goes through the condenser coil changes from gas to liquid – it “condenses” — and then is pushed out of your home via fans. This process is crucial for keeping your indoor environment comfortable, but the coils are prone to clogging with dirt.
Dirty coils limit heat dissipation and cause your AC to work harder. This can shorten the life of your AC compressor and lead to higher utility bills.
To prevent these problems, make sure you brush or vacuum the coils every week. You can also wash them with a garden hose. Just be careful to not use high water pressure, as this can bend the delicate metal fins.
Coils are also prone to corrosion, especially in areas with salty air or pollution. Corrosion eats away at the metal, creating tiny holes that allow refrigerant to leak out. This is bad for your AC unit and the environment, so it’s important to keep them as clean as possible.
Developing a comprehensive maintenance strategy for your AC condenser coils is the best way to extend its life and performance. This plan should include regular professional inspections and cleaning schedules, as well as performance monitoring. This approach enables you to make the most of your investment in cooling technology while staying ahead of future requirements.
Blower
The blower is the part that pushes air through the ductwork to heat or cool your home. The blower motor may also be the culprit if your AC isn’t working right. This can happen because the thermostat or compressor aren’t operating properly, but it could also mean that the blower fan is broken.
One common sign that the blower fan is failing is a loud chirp or squeal when the system turns on. This means the motor is consuming too much energy to run and causing extra wear on other components. You may also notice that your power bill is suddenly climbing. This happens when the blower motor is struggling to push enough air through your ducts.
Another thing that can cause the blower motor to work too hard is if your ducts are blocked or obstructed. This can cause the blower to have to work harder to move enough air into your house, which will make it more likely to burn out or to overwork itself. If you change the filter and clear any buildup or blockages, it should resolve this issue.
You can replace the blower fan yourself by removing the door at the front of the air-handler cabinet to give you access to the blower motor. Use a hex tool to unscrew the bolts and screws holding the motor in place. You can then replace the motor with the exact same model to ensure you have the proper fit. Screw the new blower in and then screw the bolts back in, using washers to make sure they’re tightened fully. You can test the new blower by wriggling it while the air is running at low speed to see whether the chirp noise is gone.
Condensate Drain
When air is cooled, it produces condensation, and that moisture needs to be efficiently removed in order to protect the system, prevent water damage to your home, and maintain energy efficiency. This is why every system has a drain line that directs excess condensation away from the indoor unit. When the AC drain line becomes clogged with dust, mold, algae and other debris, it can keep water from flowing out of your system. The resulting backflow can cause the condensate pan to overflow and leak water around your indoor unit, creating potential water damage.
A clogged drain line can also lead to a number of other problems for your system, including:
Moisture inside a clogged AC drain line creates the perfect environment for mold, mildew and algae to grow, and once it does, it will start to spread throughout the entire system. The muck inside the line will eventually create a sludge that impedes or completely blocks water flow, leaving the system with nowhere to direct moisture except through the evaporator coil, and into your home.
The drain line itself typically runs from the interior of the home, through a PVC pipe located outside near your system’s condenser. Some systems also have a pump, which aids in water movement once the condensation reaches a certain level in the system’s tank.
The problem with the clogged drain line is that it causes the inline safety float switch to shut off your AC, leading to high humidity levels, dank smells and other issues that can affect your family’s comfort and health. To avoid these complications, make sure you turn off your air conditioner at the first sign of a clogged drain line and take prompt action to clear it.