In South Africa, the percentage of households that have central air conditioning that is installed exceeds the 10% mark. It should not come as a surprise that an abundance of air conditioning units also means an abundance of issues related to air conditioning systems. You will be relieved to know that there are several things you can inspect on your own before making a phone call to an AC technician near you to have the problem diagnosed and repaired. We have accumulated a list of the most prevalent difficulties with air conditioners that you can identify and possibly fix on your own.
Dirty Filters
A dirty or blocked-up air filter is the primary offender when it comes to an air conditioner that is behaving improperly. Even though it allows air to flow through it, an air filter is designed to remove contaminants such as dust, pollen, and bacteria from the air. In an ideal situation, this will prevent dirt and grime from getting into your home’s air ducts and thereby spreading throughout the house.
Nevertheless, if this filter becomes so clogged with dust and pollen that it can no longer allow air to pass through, it will need to be replaced. You have, in effect, constructed a grime wall somewhere within your unit, which prevents any air from moving through the space. The great news is that inspecting, cleaning, or replacing this component is extremely simple to do. Buying new air filters is also not ridiculously overpriced. You should give this a try if the fan on your air conditioning unit is turning on, but you are not getting any cool air from the vents in your home. If it doesn’t start to get cooler inside your home soon, you should move on to the next recommendation.
A Poorly Maintained Air Conditioner
When pondering about maintaining their homes, house owners frequently forget to clean the outdoor air conditioning unit in their homes. We’ve found that many homeowners either forget that they need to keep their air conditioning unit clean on a routine basis or are simply unaware that this is something that needs to be done.
An outdoor air conditioning unit that is encased in pine needles, dust from a willow tree, or even long grass will prevent air from entering the unit and being cooled in the same way that a dirty air filter would. Simply rinsing your air conditioner off with your water hose will allow you to remove any foreign objects or particles that may be obstructing its operation. Because outdoor air conditioning units are made to endure the elements, an overall cleaning with water will not harm the device in any way.
The simplest solutions for fixing an air conditioning unit that isn’t working properly include cleaning (or replacing) the air filter and the outdoor unit. The steps that follow are considerably more difficult, and you might need the help and support of a qualified HVAC technician to complete them.
A Refrigerant Leak
One of the most serious risks that your air conditioning unit could have is a leak in its refrigerant system. A compound that has been created by humans called refrigerant is circulated through both the outdoor air conditioning unit and the interior system. Condensation and evaporation are the two processes that are used by the refrigerant that is stored within the coils of the condenser (which is located outside) and the evaporator (which is located inside).
If there is not an appropriate quantity, your air conditioning unit’s refrigerant will not function as it should. Two different scenarios could result in your air conditioner having a lower level of refrigerant than what is required. The first problem can arise if the person installing the air conditioner does not “charge” the refrigerant in the correct manner. The second problem is a significantly more significant one. A leak.
If you have any reason to believe that your air conditioning unit is leaking refrigerant, you should speak with an expert as quickly as possible. The local fauna and flora are in grave danger from the presence of refrigerant. Even though it is uncommon, toxicity from refrigerants can cause significant harm to the surrounding environment.
Your Evaporator Coil is Frozen
There are a lot of different things that could lead to your evaporator coil freezing over. Let’s talk about how the evaporator coil works before diving into the possible causes of a frozen evaporator coil. The cold coils that are filled with refrigerant work by drawing heat from the atmosphere as it moves over them. This results in the air being significantly cooler than it was previously.
Reduced airflow, dirty coils, and a lack of refrigerant are the primary factors that contribute to a frozen evaporator coil. Each of these things can cause the system to overwork, which can lead to the formation of moisture on the coils, which can then freeze. Make an immediate call to a technician if you have any reason to believe that the evaporator coil in your air conditioning unit has frozen over. If you do nothing to address the issue, an overstretched air conditioning unit can cause a whole host of complications for your home’s heating system. It is in your best interest to have a trained expert handle the situation as soon as possible.
A Leak in the Duct
Because of faulty ductwork, your air conditioning system may be pumping cool air into the walls of your house rather than into the rooms you use. This will not make you feel comfortable. Your home’s cooling system will suffer irreparable damage if any of its ducts are disengaged or if they contain holes or gaps. You might not need the assistance of a specialist to mend a hole or close a gap in certain situations. That is if the duct can be reached without much effort. If this is the case, you should purchase some duct tape and allow it to perform the function for which it was designed. DUCTS!
It is a terrible waste of conditioned air and forces your air conditioning unit to work much harder than it should to achieve the desired level of cooling in your home when conditioned air is lost to uninhabited crawl spaces. As was mentioned earlier, an overworked air conditioning unit can quickly lead to much more serious issues that require costly solutions. Call a local technician immediately if you have any reason to believe that the air conditioner in your household is operating continuously without effectively cooling the space.
Are You in Need of a Technician?
GreeDirect will gladly assist you in diagnosing any problem with your air conditioning unit and will work with you to find a solution that is suitable for both your household and your spending plan. Our service technicians receive ongoing training on new procedures and components so that they can provide you with an experience that is as smooth and hassle-free as is humanly possible.
