DIY Guide to Common Air Conditioner Problems

When Bay Area temperatures begin to soar, you want to be sure that your air conditioner will function smoothly and provide you appropriate cooling throughout the season. But there are times when you face some malfunctions and these quickly become a big inconvenience when you most need the AC to work properly.

Before you begin blaming the HVAC company or anyone in the family for messing with the AC and causing problems, take a look at the common issues AC users encounter and how you can tackle these easily to get your system running properly again.

1. AC not working

An AC not functioning at all could be very annoying. There are multiple reasons why this could happen. One of the most common is that your thermostat settings are wrong or the batteries in it are dead. The thermostat cannot communicate with the AC unit in such cases so you will need to replace the batteries.

Also, if the circuit breaker of your system has tripped, your AC will not function. Clogged air filters also cause the AC to malfunction. Cleaning or replacing them will rectify the issue.

2. AC not blowing cool air

First, if thermostat settings have not been changed from Heat to Cool after a season change, your AC could give out warm air. A refrigerant leak can also hamper the AC’s cooling capacity. An HVAC technician will need to check the coolant level and top it up if necessary. The leak will also have to be fixed.

3. Foul smell in the air

If your system has not been switched on in a long time or if it is dirty on the inside, mold and bacteria will grow and cause a foul odor in the air coming out of the AC. Air filters, air vents, ductwork, and coils need to be cleaned and kept free of debris to ensure there is no bad smell.

4. No uniform cooling

If your AC is not able to cool all areas of your house correctly, you may be facing air vent issues. It is also possible that your HVAC system is smaller than your requirements and cannot keep up with your temperature needs.

Creating a zone system for the AC will help cool the rooms you want. You can also close air vents in the upper floors of the house to direct cool air from down upwards.

5. Low air flow

Low air flow is again caused by dirt and grime on air filters and condenser units. Any debris on these will hamper the smooth flow of air.

6. High utility bills

Often your energy bills are very high in comparison to your AC use. There are numerous reasons for this.

You may have set your thermostat temperature too low and the AC has to work overtime to provide enough cooling. The same thing will happen if your system is too small or too large for your house.

You must also check the SEER rating of your AC and install an energy-efficient unit to lower utility costs.