Your air conditioner seems to stop when you are least expecting it and always at the wrong time. Your air conditioner can stop working for multiple reasons, and some are easier to identify than others. Here are seven reasons your air conditioner might stop working:
1. Disengaged Circuit Breaker
Circuit breakers can be an easy problem to fix. If your air conditioner suddenly stops, go to your circuit breaker and flip the appropriate switch. When the electrical wiring in your house has too much electrical current flowing through it, circuit breakers cut the power until you can fix the problem. One certain way to fix the problem is to lighten the energy use in your house. Stopping or cutting back on the use of other appliances at the same time as you use the air conditioner is helpful.
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2. Thermostat Batteries
The problem may not be with your air conditioner. The batteries in your thermostat might be dead. The way to tell if the thermostat batteries may be the problem is if the display screen is blank. Some models of thermostats have warning notices that blink on the panel if the battery is running low or has died. Putting new batteries in the thermostat may solve the problem.
3. Disconnect Switches
Indoor and outside disconnect switches are circuit breakers for air conditioners. Sometimes, the switches are accidentally bumped, switching them off. Check to see if the switches, both indoors and outside, are in the on positions. Disconnect switches problems require a trained professional. Changing the breakers or fuses to a dead disconnect box with breakers or fuses should be done by a certified HVAC technician. The AC disconnect may contain dangerous high-voltage components.
4. Damaged Electrical Wires
Electrical wires in HVAC air conditioning units are susceptible to problems. Old wires may cause problems with your air conditioning unit. Sometimes, animals chew on the wires and damage them. You’ll want an HVAC technician to replace them if this is the case.
5. Dirty Condenser Coils
Condenser coils are responsible for dispelling heat outside the house during the air conditioning process. Dirty coils can make the process less effective, causing your air conditioner to lose strength or stop working completely.
6. Coolant Leaks
An air conditioner’s coolant moves heat energy from your home, putting the heat outside to cool your house. Don’t try to fix a coolant leak. Call a professional to fix possible leaks.
7. Clogged Air Filter
A clogged air filter can lead to air conditioners not working correctly. When air filters become clogged with dirt and dust, air will not circulate. You can vacuum and spray the filter with a hose to remove dust if you have a reusable filter. You should change the air filter each month if the filter is not reusable.
It’s always a good idea to schedule routine maintenance visits with a certified HVAC technician to make sure your HVAC systems are running efficiently. Regardless, problems do happen. When they do, and you need someone to take a look at your air conditioner, give our team at Horne Heating and Air Conditioning a call to get your system running smoothly again.