Common Air Conditioning Faults and Dealing with Them
With the hot Texas sun beating down all around you in Corpus Christi, air conditioning is one essential feature in every home.
Not only is it essential to have an air conditioning unit, but having one that works optimally is of the essence. But things are not always rain and sunshine. If you encounter any issues with your air conditioning system, it’s best to contact a professional service provider such as Newcastle Air Conditioning to ensure that your unit is functioning properly and efficiently.
Like every other household appliance, your air conditioning can develop faults at any time. Generally, air conditioner problems and their causes are nearly predictable in almost all cases. An HVAC technician should be able to troubleshoot and diagnose possible issues in no time.
Below are some of the most common air conditioner problems that may occur with your unit, how to diagnose them, and possible ways to fix or manage them.
The unit does not startup
If your unit refuses to turn on, there are a lot of possible issues to probe. First, the most obvious possibility is that the unit is not even plugged into the electrical outlet.
It could also be that the thermostat is improperly set. You can also try turning down the thermostat by a few degrees and see if the unit works afterward.
Even when these tips don’t work, it doesn’t always mean that your unit is faulty. It could be a problem with your home’s electrical system.
Check if the electrical outlet you are plugged into is in good condition. If this is intact, then you should have a professional check your air conditioner for possible faults.
There are a number of possible issues with the air conditioner such as a broken compressor, faulty motor, frozen coil, and so on. A professional HVAC technician in Corpus Christi can diagnose all of these easily.
The unit is not blowing cool air
An air conditioner is expected to blow cool air if yours isn’t blowing at all, or it isn’t as cool as it should be then something is wrong.
The most basic possibility is that the unit’s thermostat is not set properly. But that’s not the only possibility. It could also be that the air condenser or air filter in your unit is blocked by debris.
Check to see if these two parts are clean and remove debris if they are dirty. If after checking all these, the unit doesn’t work, then you might have a bigger issue on your hands.
The compressor or refrigerant could be faulty, among other possibilities. Contact your air conditioning technician to have this checked.
Ineffective cooling
In some cases, even if the air conditioner is blowing cold air as it should, it might still not cool your entire room effectively.
You might feel cool while standing directly in front of the unit, but be sweating when you are standing elsewhere in your home.
A difference of at least 20 degrees between indoor and outdoor air is expected if your air conditioner is working effectively. If your air conditioner is a new one, you may have purchased a unit that is undersized for your room.
Read this article to learn how to select the right air conditioner size for your home. But if your air conditioner has always cooled your room effectively, but suddenly isn’t now, there might be a problem with its charge or evaporator coil. Have your technician check this out and diagnose the problem.
Excessive household humidity
One of the best things about air conditioners is that they also work as a dehumidifier too. This is a good thing since high humidity conditions can be very uncomfortable.
Your room will feel hotter than it should when the humidity level is too high, but if you feel that there is excess moisture in your room despite having the AC on, then something might be wrong with your unit.
First, check the temperature controls and see if they are properly set. Then you should see if the evaporator coil is extracting humidity as it should.
The problem could also be that your ductwork is allowing humid air from outside or from elsewhere in your home (unconditioned zones) into your room.
Conclusion
These are some of the common air conditioning issues faced by homeowners in Corpus Christi. It is recommended that you speak to an HVAC technician to have the fault checked and fixed rather than try to tinker with the unit in order to prevent further damage.
