Keeping an air conditioner running through the summer shouldn’t be a full-time job. Air conditioners are remarkably reliable for the amount of work they do, especially if they are covered by professional maintenance and repairs. The main benefit of routine AC maintenance is that it saves a homeowner money. Most of the common causes of an AC breakdown can be attributed to neglected maintenance, or at the very least, a professional could’ve found the potential problem during a maintenance visit.
This year, homeowners should protect their air conditioners by scheduling maintenance from local professionals. These local professionals share their advice about the three most common AC problems and how maintenance can help prevent them.
Poor air circulation
Poor air circulation is a common complaint from air conditioner owners. There can be a number of causes and a number of signs that poor air circulation is a problem within a home. Some of the signs of poor air circulation are:
- High humidity or other air quality issues
- Uneven cooling
- Long cooling cycles with inadequate cooling
- Condensation around windows
- Mold growth around windows
- Unpleasant odors
The two major causes of low airflow in a home are clogged filters and problems with the system’s blower. Air filters should be changed seasonally to prevent them from becoming clogged, and blowers should be inspected annually by a qualified professional. Both of these are standard checklist items during routine AC maintenance.
Leaking refrigerant lines
During normal activities around the house, chemicals get released into the air. These can take the form of cleaning chemicals, cooking oil that vaporizes, or aerosol products like hair spray. Once they are in the air, they will eventually make their way onto the AC coils, where they will condense and become corrosive.
These corrosive chemicals can cause leaks to form that allow refrigerants to escape. Signs of low refrigerant charge can be:
- Inadequate cooling
- Long cooling cycles
- Frozen coils
- Warm air coming from the vents
This is the main reason that AC professionals recommend periodic coil cleaning. Coil cleaning is standard practice during AC maintenance, and it can totally prevent expensive problems like refrigerant recharges and refrigerant leak repair.
Loss of power to the air conditioner
Losing power to an air conditioner is a problem that is instantly noticeable. Most of the time, the temperature in the home will soar, and the thermostat will be dead as well. When an air conditioner loses power, it is usually an indicator that something is wrong with the electrical components of a system. Compressors and blower motors are common culprits.
Even if the problem is as simple as a breaker tripping, it is always advisable to call for AC repairs. A tripping breaker is an obvious indicator that something is wrong and will continue to be wrong until it is repaired.
To prevent problems with outages, homeowners should schedule routine AC maintenance. During a maintenance visit, professionals check everything in the electrical system to ensure that bigger problems don’t occur.
About the plumbing & air service co.
The Plumbing & Air Service Co. offers upfront pricing and a satisfaction guarantee on all of their services. This family-owned business gives emergency service 24-hours a day. Call The Plumbing & Air Service Co. today for AC maintenance or repairs in Greensboro, NC.