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Ask any South Floridian what they love about South Florida, and they’ll tell you it’s the weather. If you ask the same person what they are not willing to live without, that’ll be their AC. The hot and humid conditions of the Sunshine State mean that living without an Air Conditioner is not an option. Sometimes in the summer months, you may start noticing that your AC unit is not working to its full potential. You may also see other tell-tale signs that spell trouble.
Let’s look at the top 10 problems that will require AC repair.
Refrigerant leaks are all too common in South Florida. The reason is the humid conditions that the AC units are exposed to. The excess humidity can corrode the metal pipes transporting the refrigerant through the air conditioner. When this refrigerant leaks out, your AC unit may become less efficient, consume more power and even damage some of the other components. It’s best to have a qualified AC technician conduct routine maintenance for your home. Without refrigerant, your AC is just a glorified fan.
AC units produce water. This is because a lot of condensation happens within the units. While most systems are designed with drainage systems to carry the water away from the units, leaks still happen. If the leak is indoor, you may notice staining or bubbling of the paint around the AC. Outdoor leaks appear as puddles beneath your condenser units. Sometimes pipes are blocked by algae or fungi growth resulting in the water not being able to drain away as designed. Sometimes the indoor unit hasn’t been installed perfectly level. This will invariably end up leaking as proper drainage needs to slope away with gravity.
There are few things more annoying than bad smells. Unfortunately, air conditioners are prone to bad smells if they are not properly maintained. An efficient and healthy unit needs to be cleaned regularly. Mold grows in dark, damp areas. Small animals such as insects and rodents can also contribute to the stench with their organic waste.
If you notice that your home is colder or warmer than the set temperature, you may have a faulty thermostat. The problem could be dust build-up, poor thermostat positioning, or even an electrical fault. It’s best to contact a trained technician to diagnose the appropriate repair for your AC.
If you’re an asthma sufferer, a dirty AC filter can be hazardous to your health. Since the AC unit circulates the indoor air, it catches dust and other allergens in the filter. If the filter gets clogged up, the airflow will also get weaker. It’s a good idea to clean the filter as part of your regular AC maintenance schedule.
Just like strange noises in a car mean something’s wrong, the same is true of your AC. Noises could be indicative of either an electrical or mechanical fault. Since there are a few moving parts within an air conditioner, they need to stay lubricated to function optimally. Noises are usually a precursor to equipment failure, so don’t delay contacting a technician if you hear them.
One of the most annoying problems is when the circuit breaker keeps tripping. The obvious culprit is some kind of electrical short. Some common causes are water leaks, damaged cables, and an overloaded circuit. AC specialists who are trained electricians will be able to find the fault and restore cooling to your home.
Did you say frozen? In South Florida? Yes. What happens often is that airflow to the coil is obstructed, often by dirt and debris, or blocked ducts. When the condensation that forms on the coil does not evaporate, the refrigerant cannot absorb the ambient heat and becomes too cold. When it’s cold enough, it freezes up. This means that the refrigerant cannot perform its heat exchange function which results in your home not being cooled.
The compressor keeps the AC system pressurized. The refrigerant is forced through a small aperture to spray as a fine mist inside the system. This process of evaporation and condensation inside the system causes the cooling within an AC. When the compressor overheats, it does not adequately pressurize the system. It’s not always possible to repair the compressor and you may need to get it replaced.
The outdoor units of a split system AC have a fan that blows onto the compressor. If this fan fails, it can lead to other problems. This fan transfers the heat from inside your home to the outdoors. When the fan fails, heat transfer does not take place and the AC unit will not cool efficiently.
When it comes to serving the AC needs of South Florida, Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric is who to call. We’ve been operating for over 30 years and our professional team of technicians are just a phone call away at 561-391-1048.
