Air conditioning problems are incredibly common during the summer, due to the added strain of using the system all day, every day for months at a time. Preventive maintenance is great for lowering the chances of the AC system developing any problem that is too serious, but you still should keep an eye out for signs that your system is in need of repairs. Faster reaction to developing issues makes it less likely that your AC system will end up breaking down on you in the middle of summer, which nobody wants to have happen. So, the following are just a few of the issues that you need to keep an eye out for this summer.
Frozen Coils
It’s not a good sign if you notice ice forming on your air conditioner coil during the summer. That’s usually the result of the coil not getting enough airflow, which means that you have either a clogged air filter or a malfunctioning air handler. Ice isn’t immediately dangerous to your air conditioner, although it will prevent it from operating the way it should. However, if the issue isn’t fixed properly the ice can spread to other parts of the system and compound the problems. It’s best to call for repairs as soon as you notice ice on your air conditioner, just to be safe.
Short Cycling
Turning on and off every few minutes, instead of completing a full cooling cycle, is a sign that your air conditioner is short cycling. Typically the result of a short circuit or malfunctioning compressor, short cycling both prevents the system from cooling well and increases the rate that it wears down. This makes the air conditioner more and more likely to develop problems the longer it is allowed to short cycle. If you don’t have the problem fixed soon after noticing this issue, you might have to replace the entire system early.
Refrigerant Leaks
Your air conditioner relies on chemical refrigerant to operate properly, and is supposed to use the same charge of refrigerant throughout its lifespan. A leak in the refrigerant line will immediately start to affect the system’s cooling output, as the level of fluid in the air conditioner drops. At some point, the refrigerant level will drop so low that the air conditioner will break down entirely. Make sure you have a technician check out your AC system if it’s dripping fluid, especially if the output level seems to be dropping as well.
These are just a few of the issues that can lead to air conditioner breakdowns during the summer. Make sure that you call for repairs if you even suspect that something is wrong with the air conditioning system, so that it can be repaired as quickly as possible. Better to have the issue checked out and confirmed to be minor than to ignore a potentially serious problem.
Comfy Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. offers full air conditioning repair services in Fremont, CA. If you need air conditioning repair services, contact us today for an appointment.