Is your home air conditioner not cooling the rooms like it should?
Here is a post that explains how you can effectively fix and troubleshoot common problems that people have been experiencing with their central air conditioning system.
There are certain repairs that must be fixed by qualified HVAC technicians. However, the average homeowner is equipped to handle basic problems and maintenance issues that are bound to come up every so often. In the following post you will find some tips & advice about questions that many people having been asking about.
My Air Conditioner Is Not Cooling! What Do I do?
More times than not the solution is cleaning your central air conditioner system. These units can get clogged up very easily and the failure to stay on top of their maintenance will result in them running less effectively as they age.
First, before you clean your unit please turn off the power. You will find a disconnect shut-off panel connected to the house next to the compressor located outside.
Additionally, you need to turn off the 240-volt circuit located in the main electrical panel, typically found in your garage.
Second, clear away all the excess debris away from the condenser, located on the side of the house. There might be leaves, dirt, tree limbs or tiny bushes blocking its air flow.
Third, take apart the protective grill, or top cover, that sits above the compressor. Note: sometimes the fan is attached to the cover so be extremely careful that you do not pull any wires loose.
Fourth, take a brush that has soft thistles and clean off any debris found on the fins. Be careful so that you do not accidentally damage them.
Fifth, you need to check your air conditioner owner’s manual about how often to oil your compressor. Usually the motor located in the compressor will need to be lubricated several times a year.
Find out that type of lubrication your unit takes and do that. Do not over lubricate the motor.
Sixth, put the unit back together and see if there is a difference. In order to test it you first need to turn your thermostat to the “off” position.
Next, reset the main power at the disconnect switch located near the compressor and the main panel located in your house, and then turn all three of those things on.
Let the air conditioner run for 5-10 minutes and then touch the two pipes that connect the condenser unit outside to the air handler. One of the pipes should be cool and the other one should be lukewarm.
If you need more information, please check out What To Do If You Air Conditioner Goes Out.
Help! My Air Conditioner Will Not Turn on.
When you set your thermostat on “cool” the central A/C unit should come on within five minutes.
If it does not then you need to do the following:
First, make sure that the thermostat is set at least fifteen degrees cooler than what the temperature is outside.
Sometimes people set the thermostat only a couple degrees bellow the current room temperature and many times this is not enough for the system to kick in.
Second, you need to inspect the primary electrical circuit panel inside the house and any secondary panels for a blown fuse or a tripped breaker. You might need to replace a burnt out fuse or just reset the breaker.
Third, check and make certain that the power switch for the furnace is turned in the ”on” position and that the condenser’s power switch on the outside, usually mounted on the outdoor unit, has not been turned off.
It is also a good idea to check the the 240-volt disconnect located right beside the compressor. Its in a metal box usually mounted on the house wall. Make sure that it has not been accidentally shut off.
Fourth, turn off all power going to the air conditioner. Now go to thermostat and check it. Take the cover off and unscrew the wire leading from the Y terminal. Turn the power leading to the air conditioner back on. While you are holding the wire, by its insulation only, feel the exposed end to the R terminal and hold it in its place for approximately 2 minutes. Should the compressor come on then you know that the thermostat has a problem and needs to be repaired. Call a technician to fix it or you can go to your nearest heating and cooling supply store and replace it. If the A/C compressor does not come on when you are holding the dual wires together then you need to turn the power off again and call a certified technician to check out that is wrong.
You can also check this older post out if you need to Diagnose and Troubleshoot Common Problems People Have With Their Air Conditioning System.
I Am Experiencing Extreme Temperature Swings in My Rooms
The temperatures between rooms should not swing more than three degrees between the air conditioner cycling on the on and off position. If there are big swings then most likely the pump is not turning on as often as it should.
Another possible problem is the actual thermostat. It might be either improperly installed or calibrated. If this is the case then it is not properly sensing the air room temperature and automatically turning on the central air conditioner.
There Is A Lot of Noise Coming from The Air Handler!
Most air handlers, especially the newer models, come equipped with direct drive motors. There are, however, some older A/C units that are belt driven. The squealing sounds you hear from your belt drive air handler are occurring when the motor that connects to the belt starts to slip. There is also a chance that due to problem the motor’s bearings are shot and need to be replaced. At this point you should shut the air conditioning system off and call a repair technician.
I See A lot of Water Pooling Up Next to the Air Conditioner
A central air conditioning system creates a lot of condensation. The system is designed so that most of the water generated exits through a small drain tube made from plastic and then carried away by a special pump. If you notice water pooling up then an item might be obstructing the slow of the water or your condensation pump might not be functioning properly.
If this is the case:
First, check and make sure that one of the plastic tubes is not leaking. If it is then you need to replace it.
Second, you need to test to make sure your condensate pump is working. To do this you should pour some water into its pan. It should start working soon. If it does not then the device is broken or not receiving adequate power. Make sure that it is plugged in and then check the circuit. If you find that the condensate pump is broken then you need to get it fixed or have it totally replaced.
Third, check to see if ice has blocked the tube. If this is the case then the filter might be dirty.
If you check find the filter is not dirty then the refrigerant supply is at low levels. Only certified repairmen should replace or refilled refrigerant.
If you do not want to fix your air conditioner anytime soon then you need to properly maintain it. Your A/C works hard throughout the year to keep you and your family comfortable. Having problems knowing where to start? Find out how you can Maintain Your Air Conditioning System To Keep It Running Smooth.
