AC repair normally involves common problems that can easily be taken care of by a certified AC repairman. An air conditioner uses Freon to cool the air. One of the most common problems that many repair shops see in the summer is the air conditioner is running but it is not cooling. What causes this problem?
One reason could be the compressor is not coming on due to a short in a wire. The compressor may be burnt. The start capacitor could be bad. There are a variety of reasons including the system could have been installed incorrectly. This is why unless you are certified to repair air conditioners that it should be taken to an AC repair shop.
In addition, another problem could be the air conditioner is leaking. This is normally the result of the drain being clogged, the AC unit could be frozen up or there could be an evaporator coil pan that is rusty. If you suspect the problem may be the compressor, go outside to the unit and listen. You can hear the compressor when it is running. If it is not, this is why the AC is not cooling the inside air.
An air conditioner is somewhat similar to a refrigerator. The Freon inside the unit will travel through an expansion valve. The Freon evaporates and becomes a cold gas. This runs through coils causing the gas to absorb the heat in a room and cool the air down. The Freon is in a sealed system and it should never need charged or replaced.
Many times the reason for low Freon and the resulting loss of cool air inside is a leak in the system. This can actually happen when the air conditioner is installed and it can leak minute amounts for a while before it has an effect that you will notice. This is often the result of a vacuum hose not being installed or when the welding is done upon installation, there was a bad braze weld. This is another reason you need a certified repairman. They have the equipment to test the system and see if it is leaking.
An air conditioner that is running on low Freon can cause more problems, such as damaging the compressor, which can end up being quite expensive to replace. Hopefully, there will not be problems severe enough to warrant replacing the air conditioner. This can be very costly.
Probably the most embarrassing of all problems that can happen when you cannot get your air conditioner to power on is a tripped breaker. There are many repairmen that have been called out over this and it is common after the winter is over and you turn the air on for the first time.
A power surge could have caused this anytime between now and the last time it was on. If your thermostat uses batteries, they may need replaced. Even if your breaker is off, when you call a repairman, they have to charge a minimum amount for making the service call, so always check these things first and you may save yourself money.
