How to FixCommon Air Conditioner

Problems

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Air Conditioner• Air conditioners are like any machine

that requires regular maintenance.• They consist of several components

that can wear out and call for special attention. Some of the components are the condensers (located outside), evaporator coil (installed in the plenum or in the main junction over the furnace), accumulator, compressor, receiver drier, thermostat, orifice tube, refrigerant and the sensors.

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• All air conditioners are supposed to be inspected regularly especially in the beginning of each season.

• The good thing with air conditioners is that common problems can be found by visual inspection such as obstructed condenser air passages, loose compressor clutch and mounting, disconnected wires and leaking refrigerant among others.

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• Here are the common air conditioner problems and the basic things you can do on your own to troubleshoot them before calling a professional.

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Condenser problems • The condenser fails to run

– You should check the power and make sure it is plugged in well. if it is okay, check if the fuse is blown or if the circuit breaker is tripped. Then restore the power and see if it starts. You can also check if the thermostat is set properly. Lower it by five degree and see if it kicks on. If it doesn’t the problem is likely to be a faulty motor or compressor problem that will require professional assistance. But if it is the problem, the condenser will kick on and the cooling cycle will begin.

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• If the condenser fan won’t run;– First check the whether the thermostat is turned on to

cool and the temperature setting is below the room temperature indicated on the thermostat.

– If it the thermostat is correctly set to cool, Make sure that the pressure of refrigerant is equivalent to ambient temperature.

– You can check the high and low pressure cut outs.– There must be correct line voltage at the condensing

unit.– You should correct control voltage to the thermostat.– Turn off the power, check the fan motor and

compressor terminals for a grounded, shorted, or open winding

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Air conditioner doesn’t turn on

• If your air conditioner does not start at all;– the most common cause lie with a blown

circuit breaker or fuse,• Reset the circuit breaker and replace the

fuse. If it fails again, then stop it and call a professional

– improperly set or faulty thermostat or an internal switch being off.• The thermostat must be in the “Cool”

position and not set to “Off” or “Heat.”• Make sure the thermostat is set below the

current room temperature for effective cooling.

Make sure all switches around the air conditioner are closed

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Inadequate cooling• If there is inadequate cooling in your conditioner;

– You can reduce the thermostat by 5 degrees to have this issue solved. If it doesn’t, your evaporator might be dirty. You can clean it then run it for few hours.

– If the problem persists. There could be chances that you have improper size of air conditioner.

• Sometimes hot temperatures can affect the operation of air conditioner.– If the temperatures have been very high let’s say over

100 degrees, you may be able to achieve 62 degrees inside your home especially when the windows are letting in the sun’s energy.

– It is important to seek professional assistance when the temperatures have been unusually high.

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Air conditioner runs but doesn't cool

• Sometimes the air conditioner can run and you don't feel any cool air.– It is important to check the thermostat

although it might not be the problem.– Check whether the condenser is dirty, clean it

and remove any dirt.– Inadequate amount of refrigerant in the system

can be the cause of this problem and it can be addressed by a professional.

– Check the air compressor whether it is running by listening to it and checking for the power light.

– Check the compressor or condenser coil whether it is blocked or damaged

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– You can check whether the compressor cooling fan is working. This can also cause the entire compressor to shut down to avoid any damage. It can also cause the entire air conditioning to break down.

– If you’ve checked everything and found out that everything is working properly, you may need to cal a professional.

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Low Refrigerant• If the refrigerant is low, adding a refrigerant is not

a solution as it might have been undercharged during installation or it leaks.– A trained technician can fix the problem by

charging the system with correct amount of refrigerant. Remember that the air conditioner is more efficient when the level of refrigerant matches with the manufacture’s specification and its leakage can be harmful to the environment.

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Electric control failure• Corrosion of wires and terminals are

the most common air conditioner problems. They cause the system to repeatedly turn on and off, making the compressor and fan controls to wear out.– They should be checked by a certified

professional. The turning on and off is another problem which can be caused by a dirty condenser unit and evaporator. Cleaning the entire system and removing any obstructions will eliminate the problem.

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Sensor problems • If the thermostat sensor located behind the

control panel that measures the temperature of air coming into the evaporative coil is knocked out of position, the air conditioner could cycle constantly or behave erratically. The sensor should be near the coil but not touching it;– adjust its position by carefully bending the wire

that holds it in place. If the sensor is broken or your thermostat is not located in an ideal location, you may replace the thermostat with a programmable version, but you should not mess with the thermostat if you are not sure on what you are doing.

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• The worst enemies of the air conditioners are moisture, dirt, alcohol, dye, rubber, metal particles, incorrect refrigerant and improper servicing.– You must first make a visual inspection, then

proceed to any performance test.– A leak detector it can help you in inspecting

the refrigerant leakage.– You can consult the owner’s manual when

performing any repairs and cleanings.The power must be shut off before doing

anything. But always contact a certified expert for assistance to avoid any shame of causing damage to your air condition, injury to yourself or when you are unable to fix it on your own. You can get an air conditioning specialist form http://www.tampaairconditioningheatrepair.com/ and stay in touch for professional and advanced technological services.

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