3 Common Reasons for A/C Breakdowns – and What to Do about Them
It’s the hottest day of the year, and all you can think about is getting back to your cool, comfortable air-conditioned Maryland home – until you get there and find out your air conditioner has broken down just when you need it most.
Here are the 3 most common reasons why this happens, and what you can do about them.
1. Dirty air filter
Your air filter protects your air conditioner from dirt and pollutants. But when it’s clogged, that protector can quickly turn into an enemy. Dirty air filters block airflow in your home’s air ducts, forcing your AC to work harder to cool your home; this will continue until your air conditioner overheats and either blows a circuit breaker or shuts down entirely.
Solution: Change your air filter once a month during cooling season.
2. Dirty condenser coils
Condenser coils deliver refrigerant, which transfers heat from your air conditioner’s indoor unit to its outdoor unit. If dirt covers the condenser coils, the refrigerant can’t release the heat into the outdoor air – so the heat continues to build up until your air conditioner overheats.
Solution: Get annual routine AC maintenance! Technicians will clean your outdoor condenser unit with a special coil cleaner spray to remove dirt and debris safely.
3. Low refrigerant
Just like having dirty condenser coils, not having enough refrigerant will also cause your air conditioner to overwork and overheat.
Solution: First, look out for telltale signs of low refrigerant:
- Air isn’t as cool coming out of the vents
- Outside unit is covered in ice
- Cooler bills are significantly higher than normal
If you’re low on refrigerant, you probably have a leak that will need to be repaired before you can recharge your system (you can’t just add refrigerant to your cooling system like antifreeze in a car). Your certified Carroll technicians will:
- Confirm there’s a leak
- Remove leftover refrigerant
- Repair the leak
- Re-charge the air conditioner
If you find that your AC needs repairs or charging each cooling season, it’s probably time to invest in a new, high-efficiency unit. Contact Carroll today for a FREE estimate!
