What happens when your AC breaks down?

The first sign would be that you would wake up drenched in sweat and find no relief even when you peel the covers off.

The only solution you see to escape from the suffering of the heat is to contact an air conditioner repair technician at Hot Point.

However, if you are a mechanically-inclined person, troubleshooting problems that can be easily fixed can help you make some easy fixes at home, saving time and cost of repairs.

To stay safe during the DIY AC repairs, ensure that you flip the breaker to the “off” position.

Common Air conditioner Problems

1: Air Conditioner is low on refrigerant

Refrigerant helps cools the air within your air conditioning system. If your AC has reduced levels of refrigerant, it implies a problem or leaks with the refrigerant system.

However, adding refrigerant in the unit is not the right answer though it may seem the best solution to the problem. The amount of refrigerant required to be added to the unit should be precise and match the manufacture’s specifications accurately. To fix the problem, it is essential that you know the cause of the leak and finds a solution to fix it.

Solution

For commercial establishments, recharging AC will help refill the refrigerant into the system and initially help in keeping the business running. However, fixing the leak is important to repair the problem.

If you find a leak in the condensing or evaporator coils, valve or access port, it may require heavy-duty soldering to fix the problem. At such times, it is always best to seek professional help.

Try the Freon Leak Repair Kit

Using the Freon leak repair kit is a good way to fix small refrigerant leaks in residential and small commercial AC systems. The kit contains the valve, hose, and sealant. When the hose and access fitting are connected to the suction line at the outdoor unit or condenser and the AC is switched on, the compressor sucks the sealant into the system and seals small leaks.

2. A Faulty Air conditioner Blower Motor

If your AC turns on but does not blow cool air, it is a sign that the blower motor of your AC has stopped working.

Solution

A tripped circuit breaker can be one of the causes of the problem. To fix the problem, check your breaker panel. There are two breakers in an AC unit. -One for the fan and other for the condenser. If you find that the breaker is tripped halfway, first turn it off all the way and then turn it back on. However, if the breaker continues to flip after the unit is switched on; the breaker could be faulty and may need to be replaced.

A faulty shutoff switch could also be the cause of the problem. This usually happens when either a clogged drain line has set off the switch, shutting off power to your AC or due to the faulty switch itself.
Damaged or faulty wiring may be another reason that can prevent the blower motor from functioning properly. To fix this, it highly recommended that you hire an HVAC professional rather than attempting to repair it yourself.

3. The Coil is frozen

When airflow is restricted to the coils in your AC due to dirty filter or if your AC is low on refrigerant or if the temperature outside is low, it can lead the coils to freeze. When coils are frozen, your AC will not blow cool air.

Solution

Set the fan to the auto mode on your thermostat to melt the ice around the fan. Check for obstructions in return air ductwork or airflow problems are dirty air filters. Also, check the refrigeration level and ensure that your blower ban is not malfunctioning.

4: The unit turns on and off constantly

If your AC turns on and off repeatedly several times, it is signally a problem. Primarily, the problem may be caused due to a refrigerant leak, bad thermostat or dirty filter.

Solution

Most of the causes of this problem are similar to a frozen air conditioner.

Cleaning or replacing the filter and checking for the refrigeration leak and getting the leak fixed can be quite helpful in solving this problem to a great extent.

However, if you are unable to fix your air conditioner problems, contact Hot Point immediately. Our AC repair technicians will help fix the problem instead of just treating the symptoms.

5: Unusual odor coming from your AC

When there is water stagnation in the HVAC box of your air conditioning unit, it can result in emitting a foul smell whenever the AC is turned on, risking your health.

Solution

To know the reason for the odor, you must inspect your AC thoroughly.

Check if rats, mice or other animals have found their way into your outside condenser unit or your home duct-work and have died because they couldn’t escape or check if your filter is dirty and needs to be replaced. If you are unable to find a solution to the problems, contact us at Hot Point. Our efficient, quick and honest Wisconsin HVAC services will ensure that you stay comfortable in your home all through the year.

6: A Weak AC Unit

If you find that your AC is taking a while to cool down your home, it indicates the AC system is not working to its full efficiency.

To fix the problem, check if your AC is clogged with leaves or dirt or any other debris that has been accumulated around the unit or inside the pipe.

Solution

A simple solution to the problem is to sweep the debris away from the outside of the unit and ensure that all the grass, weeds and bushes around the unit are pruned so that airflow is not restricted.

If you do not see any obstruction, it is most likely that your drains might be clogged. Using a plumbers’ snake or a shop vac can help fix this problem.

However, if you still find your AC unit operating weakly, giving Hot Point a call can help prevent the risk of expensive repair costs in the future.

7: Air Conditioner Blows Hot Air

If you find that your AC is blowing hot air instead of cool air, it signals that there is something wrong with your air conditioner. Checking if you have accidentally left your thermostat set on a “heat” or “fan” instead of “cool” or “auto” should fix the problem.

Solution

If there is no fault in the setting of the thermostat, seeking professional help might be the need of the hour.

If you do not get your AC checked soon to fix this problem, you may have to spend money on costly repairs soon.