Photo By karenfoleyphotography at istock

People may not think of air conditioning as a necessity. However, if you live in a very warm area, it certainly is. For example, Mansfield, TX is one area where it can be very uncomfortable to live in a home without an air conditioner. Not only should you have an air conditioner, but it should function properly. If it happens to malfunction, it can make your quality of life very poor in your home.

Some of the Most Common Air Conditioner Issues

There are many reasons why you might be in need of air conditioning repair. This is because there are many different things that can potentially go wrong with an air conditioner. The following are some of the most common issues that you would see with an air conditioner.

Clogged or Dirty Filters

One of the most common reasons why an air conditioner would not be working properly is a dirty or clogged filter. In terms of how often you should be changing your air filter, you should follow whatever suggestions your manufacturer has laid out.

Sometimes, you will have to change the filter on a monthly basis, and sometimes it will be every three months. In some cases, the filter is actually not disposable but reusable. In this case, you shouldn’t change it, simply clean it when it happens to get dirty. One way in which you can determine if this needs to happen is to check if light passes through it when you hold it up to the light. If you don’t see any light coming through it, it might be time to give it a cleaning. Dirty filters can both reduce the flow of air that goes through your system and also cause freezing within the unit.

Thermostat Issues

Sometimes, the problem will lie with the thermostat within their conditioner. If this is the case, what you should do is make sure that your thermostat is turned on, and the inside is clean. It should also be level. The thermostat is what controls the temperature setting within your home. You should also make sure that the thermostat is not being affected by sunlight in any way, and that the setting is correct. If you have done all of these things, and there are still problems, there might be some other issue with your AC system. In this case, you might want to call in an air conditioning repair professional.

Leaking Refrigerant

If you see the coolant has started to leave within the AC system, the unit is not going to perform correctly. Specifically, the temperature is probably going to be doing a lot of fluctuation. You should have this examined yearly by an air conditioning repair professional, in order to avoid any unnecessary costly damage. The location of the leak is also going to have an impact on the cost of air conditioning repair in this case.

Drainage Issues

The drain line can end up clogged with debris, such as dust, dirt, and lint. This is similar to the filter in this way. If it ends up getting clogged, the drain pan is going to fill up, and the water is going to leak out of the system. This could potentially cause a great deal of damage to both your AC unit and the other things that might be around the pan.

Fuse or Breaker Issues

The fuses and breakers of your unit will safeguard the motor air compressor and prevent it from overheating. A lot of the time, when a motor dies, one of the first things that the air conditioning repair professional is going to check is the breaker.

Capacitor Issues

The start capacitor is there in order to send a little jolt that activates the motor. The run capacitor will continue providing a series of jolts, in order to have the motor continue to work. If either of these burns out, the AC unit is not going to run with maximum efficiency. Without functioning capacitors, the motors that provide power to the fans and compressor are not going to be working properly.

Compressor Issues

The compressor is responsible for the application of energy to the refrigerant. It also proposed the refrigerant through the coil, in order to facilitate the heat exchange process. You have a compressor that is not functioning, the AC unit is not going to function to cool your home. If you have a lack of refrigerant, the compressor is going to run hot and eventually will seize. If you have an excess of refrigerant, it is going to return to the compressor, and it could potentially cause the compressor to fail and a need for air conditioning repair.

Coil Issues

The evaporator coils function to absorb heat from the air and send it back into your home as cold air. This happens using many different air ducts. The coils can become corroded, and they typically require maintenance at least once every three years.

Condenser coils are typically oriented outside, along with the compressor. They can become dirty simply as a result of exposure to the elements. Typically, you can clean them with a water hose annually, but if they happen to get too dirty, you will have to bring in an air conditioning repair professional to use a chemical cleaner on them.

Worn Contactor

There are contactors for the blower motor, condenser fan motor, and compressor within an air conditioning unit. They create an electrical connection that powers the compressor and motors. If there is pitting and arcing on the contactor, it will become very difficult for any kind of electric current to drive the motors to start.

Conclusion

If you are in need of air conditioning repair in the very hot city of Mansfield, TX, you should feel free to contact the professionals and technicians at Minuteman Heating & Air. They will be able to address any needs that you have in terms of air conditioning repair, and you will be satisfied with their service.