Like all appliances that are used frequently, your air conditioner will come across a few issues here and there. It’s important to know ahead of time what they might be in order to troubleshoot them as quickly as possible. To help you out, the pros at Freedom Air and Heat have a list of some of the most common air conditioning problems that you should know about.
1. Frozen Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil is an important component of your air conditioner. Here’s a short version of how your AC works and the role the evaporator coil plays in it. Your air conditioner sucks in warm, indoor air and fans blow it over the evaporator coil. The coil contains refrigerant, which sucks in the heat from the air and vaporizes. The now cool air is blown into your home.
If your evaporator coil freezes up, chances are it is because the coil has a great deal of dirt and dust on it. This is often caused by a clogged air filter, which can cause other issues such as bad indoor air quality and excess energy consumption. To fix this problem, turn your AC off and wait for the ice on the evaporator coil thaw. During that time, change your air filter. Turn your AC back on and see if the problem persists or not.
2. Low Refrigerant
As we mentioned before, refrigerant is a cooling agent that your air conditioner needs. Your AC is also a closed loop system, meaning refrigerant is not meant to evaporate from your unit. There are several signs of low refrigerant:
- Leaks around your outdoor condenser
- An air conditioner that isn’t providing enough cooling or is blowing warm air
- Ice on refrigerant lines
- Hissing or bubbling noise from refrigerant lines
If you notice any of these signs, it’s important that you call a professional HVAC technician as soon as possible. While you might be inclined to handle this problem on your own, refrigerant is a dangerous chemical and its best that a professional handle it—in fact, the law requires it.
3. Loud Noises from Outdoor Condenser
The outdoor unit contains the compressor and condenser coils, so it is vital that it is kept in good condition. If you hear noises coming from the condenser (like a clanging) chances are debris or a small component is stuck in its fan. Turn off your AC and remove the fan and check inside the unit—use a gloved hand to remove anything stuck inside. If you hear a hissing noise, turn the AC off immediately and call a technician—a hissing noise usually indicates an issue with refrigerant lines.
