6 Air Conditioner Troubleshooting Tips

Air conditioners are systems with multiple parts that must all work properly together, to give you the cooling your house requires. As the AC runs a lot during Bay Area summers, and continues to do so every year, there may be wear and tear of parts or components getting dirty. This may cause some malfunctioning which, if noticed in time, can be resolved and managed by homeowners quickly.

So, before you start getting worried over any glitch in your air conditioner, here are some troubleshooting tips to help you identify problems in your AC, what causes them and what you can do to get your system working properly again.

1. Check the thermostat

One of the most common causes of air conditioner malfunctioning is incorrect thermostat settings or dead batteries. If you have a smart thermostat, you can recalibrate the settings for proper temperature and zoning. If the thermostat is not working properly, the AC will not start and you may then have to call a technician to check or replace the thermostat.

2. Inspect the ductwork

If your AC as well as thermostat seem to be working fine but the house still doesn’t feel cool, it could be due to dirty or leaky ducts. Conditioned air is transported around the house through the ducts. If the ducts are unclean or have rodent infestation, it could lead to a tear in the ducts. If there is a leak anywhere, some amount of air will be lost to the surroundings and your AC will have to work overtime to compensate for the loss of energy and temperature.

3. Clean the condenser coil

The condenser is responsible for expelling heat absorbed from your house into the outdoors. This unit is located on the exterior of your house, thus increasing the possibility of dirt, soot, twigs and leaves clogging it. If it is dirty and blocked, the condenser coil will not be able to function properly and remove heat from the house. As a result, the AC will get overworked and cause wear and tear of components.

4. Check the evaporator coil

This coil has the refrigerant that absorbs heat from indoor air. When there is less airflow, a layer of ice can form on the evaporator coil which will hamper the flow of air to the AC supply registers. You will, hence, receive warm or no air.

5. Clean drain lines and pans

The moisture that is removed by your air conditioner is designed to be expelled from the house through a drain line and collected in a drain pan. If drain pipes are clogged or drain pans are full and overflowing, the stagnant water can cause damage to your system as well as to your house structure.

6. Look for air leaks and blocked vents

Often, the cause for rooms not cooling is merely leaky doors and windows or air vents blocked due to furniture or drapes. Caulking can help seal windows and rearranging your furniture will help cool air circulate properly throughout the house.