Summer is heating up, which means more strain on your air conditioner. More strain equals more wear and tear, which means more opportunities for new problems to develop or old problems to get worse. Even if you scheduled preventive maintenance for your air conditioner this past spring, you still need to be on alert for any possible signs of problems developing in the system. The faster you can have the issue repaired, the better off your system will be. Have a look at three of the more common air conditioning problems you may run into below, and their warning signs.
Clogged Air Filter
Clogged air filters are quite common across the country. Most homeowners aren’t even aware that their air conditioner has an air filter. It does, though, and it needs to be changed every few months while the air conditioner is under heavy use to avoid becoming clogged.
A clogged air filter will cut off the majority of the airflow from entering the air conditioner. This will prevent the system from circulating as much air as it normally does, but it can also cause other issues. The coil in the air conditioner might freeze due to the lack of airflow, which will lead to the system breaking down if it isn’t fixed. In order to prevent this from happening, you should change your filter every few months during the summer season. If you don’t know how to do that, consult with a professional technician.
Refrigerant Leaks
Your air conditioner recycles refrigerant back and forth throughout its life to cool the home. It shouldn’t ever need new refrigerant added to it, save in cases of refrigerant leaks. A refrigerant leak robs the air conditioner of the fluid it needs to do its job. The lower the refrigerant level in the air conditioner drops, the lower its cooling output will drop. If the refrigerant level drops low enough, the system will shut down. So, make sure that you call for repairs if you notice fluid leaking from your air conditioner.
Short Cycling
Short cycling is when your air conditioner turns itself on and off every few minutes instead of completing a full cooling cycle. This causes a number of issues. First, short cycling prevents the air conditioner from cooling as well as it should. Second, it accelerates the rate at which the system wears down. The longer the air conditioner is allowed to short cycle, the more prone to various other issues it’s going to be. Short cycling can also shorten the lifespan of the air conditioner by up to several years, so it’s a good idea to call for repairs as soon as you notice it. You don’t want your system dealing with this particular problem any longer than is absolutely necessary.
Climate Masters offers a full range of air conditioning services. If you’re looking for St. Augustine, FL air conditioning repair, we can help. Contact us today for an appointment with one of our professional air conditioning technicians.
