The air conditioning unit is one of the essential systems in your home, especially during the hot summer months. An AC unit keeps your house cool and maintains keeps you comfortable. You may take the AC unit for granted until it suddenly stops working. Then you realize its importance.

If buying or selling a home, be sure to have a professional home inspector. A good home inspector will evaluate the AC unit to make sure it’s working correctly and look for any potential problems with the unit that could lead to problems or safety issues in the future.

Did you know that regular HVAC maintenance extends the life of air conditioners by 40 percent? For most homes in the United States, cooling and refrigeration cost about $300 per year. On average, only 42 percent of homeowners in the United States have their air conditioners maintained by a professional.

Five most common air conditioning problems

1) Air conditioning unit stops working

If your air conditioning unit suddenly stops working without warning, especially during the hot summer months, you may have a problem. Here’s what you can do. First, try to check the thermostat batteries. If they are dead, replace them.

If the batteries work, check the thermostat settings next and see that it is set to ‘cooling’ mode and adjust it to the temperature you want. Check the circuit breaker to make sure it is in the ON position. If it’s tripped or on the off position, try to reset it by flipping the switch on and off. If everything still fails, you may need to call in an HVAC professional.

2) Your AC is blowing hot or warm air

If your air conditioning unit starts blowing warm or hot air into the house, see that your thermostat settings are correct. Your AC may be blowing warm or hot air if:

The AC is low on refrigerant. The refrigerant, which we mostly know as freon, is what transfers heat to make your system cool. If you notice your AC unit struggling and running longer to get the temperature you set, it might be low on refrigerant. A licensed Heating & Air contractor can help you find the source of a leak and fix it.
The compressor is not working. This could be because of a clogged filter or low refrigerant levels. Dirty, clogged air filters often cause problems. If the coils are blocked, your AC will not blow cold air. It helps to check and change your air filter regularly and replace it periodically.
The fans are not working correctly. If the fans are not spinning, then the AC will not be able to cool the air.

3) Your AC unit produces loud noises

If your air conditioning unit is working but produces loud sounds, it may be struggling to produce cold air. Listen for unusually loud noises. Different noises could mean various issues.

A screeching and squealing sound could indicate a faulty belt, while a rattling sound could signal motor, fans, or compressors problems. Loose air filters could also produce a rattling sound. Unusually loud noises are best corrected by a professional.

4) Your air conditioning unit has a leak

Leaks in your air conditioning unit can happen for several reasons, like corrosion or loose fittings. For example, if water leaks into the electrical components of the AC unit, it can cause a short circuit and severe damage.

If the refrigerant leaks out, your AC unit will not work correctly to cool your house. Worse still, it will result in more issues like high power consumption, coil freezing, damaged compressor, and uneven cooling. If you can’t solve whatever may be causing the leak, it’s best to call a professional before it becomes your next big expense.

5) Uneven Temperature Distribution

Have you noticed that some rooms or parts in your house are colder than others? An unbalanced air system could be the issue. Several factors can cause uneven

temperature distribution, including poor insulation, inadequate airflow, damaged or disconnected ducting, and improper maintenance. Without adequate insulation in your home, hot or cold air can escape through the walls and ceilings. This leads to significant temperature differences between different parts of the house. The size of your AC unit is another factor to consider. For example, if your AC unit is too small for your home, it may not be able to move enough air around to cool all parts of the house evenly. Help your AC work for you by keeping all windows and doors closed while the AC unit is on.

Final Take

Summer may not be the perfect time to have your air conditioning maintenances by a HVAC Contractor, it is best to perform maintenance before your system performs at its peak. During an inspection, they will check for any issues in your AC unit that needs instant fixing to avoid further damage and costly repairs. If you are planning to sell or buy a property, give us a call at: 951.351.1855