Home Repairs: Common Problems With Air Conditioners

The air conditioning unit in your home can help save you from the hot, sticky summer weather outside your door, but it can't do that if it's suffering from problems of its own. There are a few common problems your air conditioning unit can experience -- when these occur, they can prevent your unit from pumping out that cool, comfortable air, and could even present more serious problems if not dealt with as soon as possible.

One problem your air conditioner can experience is a frozen coil. When your unit has poor airflow, dirty filters, or some other airway blockage, this can creep up and cause your air conditioner not to function correctly. If your unit is low on refrigerant, this can also cause the coil to freeze. This is a problem that will need to be repaired before your unit will begin working the right way again.

Low refrigerant can cause your inner coil to freeze, but it's also a pretty big problem in its own right. If you regularly have to replace the refrigerant (often called Freon) in your air conditioning unit, it could be the sign of a leak. When the refrigerant is low or gone completely, your air conditioner won't be able to cool as it should, which essentially makes running it a waste. If a leak is present, it should be repaired.

If your outside fan is not functioning, a big part of the unit's process is missing. This is the fan that draws the warmer air from inside your home to the outdoors. When this exchange isn't taking place, it can cause your unit to overheat, trip the safety overload, or both. If you suspect that this outside fan is not functioning properly, it's important to have it checked out as soon as possible.

Bad wiring inside the air conditioner can also cause a myriad of issues for both the unit and your home. A wiring problem can not just cause your unit to not receive power, it can also trip your home's circuit breaker, and can even present a potential fire hazard. Needless to say, faulty wiring is a problem that requires the immediate attention of an air conditioning repair specialist.

These are some of the more common problems your air conditioner could experience. By locating a nearby repair company, you can be sure that you have the number of someone qualified to take care of such issues should the need arise, as well as someone who can perform regular check-ups on your unit.