What causes central ac to stop working?
We are into the summer weather now here in Louisiana, and the word hot is describing more than our gumbo. Temps are in the 90s and inching into the three digit mark with a humidity that matches. Now is not the time to have problems with your central air conditioning. Nor do you want to be on the wait list for new central air conditioning installation!
We are going to answer some questions today about central air conditioning and why it would just quit working all of the sudden. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t just stop working. We just aren’t always paying attention to indications that it is about to quit working!
There are 7 common reasons why a central air conditioning unit will stop working:
- LOW REFRIGERANT. The refrigerant is what removes the heat and humidity from the air inside your home. If it is low, usually from a leaking refrigerant line or a bad compressor, the unit quits working. This needs the attention and service of a certified, licensed air conditioning technician.
- EVAPORATOR COILS FROZEN. The evaporator coil of your central air conditioning system is filled with that refrigerant and is what absorbs that heat, much like a sponge absorbs water. If the coils don’t have warm air around them , they can’t work properly and ice forms over them.
- CONDENSER COILS DIRTY. The condenser coils are in the outdoor component of your central air conditioning unit. They get rid of that heat the evaporator coils removed and expel it outside. When they are covered in dirt and grime, they can’t work.
- THE FAN. The blower fan is what blows the indoor air over the evaporator coils and cools the air inside your home. There is also a fan that blows air over the outdoor condenser that helps expel that absorbed heat. When one or both of those fans aren’t working right, you aren’t going to get cool air flowing through the house.
- DUCTS LEAKING. The ductwork in the ceiling and walls carries that cooled air throughout your home. If there are any holes, splits, are crushed ducts, that cooled air isn’t getting where it needs to be. So, you’re paying for cooled air to fill your attic, inside the walls, or under the house.
- THERMOSTAT PROBLEMS. If you have the old school thermostat with a dial, it probably is mis-calibrated, and your central air conditioner isn’t getting the instructions it needs to cool your home. Fortunately, this can be an easy fix by installing a programmable thermostats.
- DRAINS CLOGGED. As the coils and evaporators do their thing, it creates moisture from the hot air and sends it to a drain pain. However, if the lines to the drain pan or the drain pan itself becomes clogged and full, that moisture can’t go anywhere. It backs up into the central air conditioning system and flows over, creating water damage and before you know it, your central air conditioning is not working.
How do I know if my central air conditioning thermostat is broken?
The following five signs are telling you it is time to replace your current thermostat:
- Your Central Air Conditioning is Turning On and Off: The main job of the thermostat is to communicate with the central air conditioning. If the system is turning off and on irregularly, repeatedly, or just randomly turns on or off, then replace the thermostat. It could be the internal wiring has been damaged, frayed, is simply wore out.
- The Reading is Incorrect: If the thermostat is showing an incorrect temperature, which can be tested by comparing to a portable indoor thermometer, you need to replace your central air conditioning and heating thermostat. It is likely the sensor inside the current thermostat is old or it has a manufacturing defect.
- The Energy Bill Increased Excessively: If your utilities have increased an exceedingly high amount this year, it may be the thermostat is reading the room incorrectly and causing the central air conditioning to overwork, which is using more electricity. To find the source of a skyrocketing energy bill, start by switching out the thermostat.
- Temperature Swings Constantly: A thermostat that is malfunctioning won’t stay at the setting you place it and may shift temperatures quickly without warning. You lower it, it raises back up, or vice versa, change out your thermostat.
- An Old and Outdated Thermostat: If you haven’t replaced your central air conditioning’s thermostat in the last 10 years, it is outdated and time to be replaced. Consider a programmable replacement and get your home upgraded with the advanced technology available today. Whether your central air conditioning is gas or electric, a programmable thermostat will help this summer and the winter too!
How do you diagnose central air conditioning problems and what do I do if my ac isn’t working?
When your central air conditioning has suddenly stopped working, it is panic time here in Louisiana during the summer. Take a moment to calm down and check the following:
1. Won’t Turn On
Check outside to see if the condenser is running. Is everything plugged in, and the thermostat is set on air conditioning? Move the thermostat down 5 or 10 degrees and see if it cuts on.
If that didn’t do anything, check the fuse or breaker box, and see if it threw the switch. If all is in place there, see if there is ice on the coils or compressor. If there is, call your central air conditioning technician.
2. Not Cooling the Air
Check that the thermostat is set at air conditioning and is turned on. See if the air condenser is blocked or dirty on the outside unit. It is important to keep debris, grass, and weeds down so the air circulation isn’t blocked.
Next, check the air filter and change it or clean it if you haven’t been doing that. When the air filter is clogged or dirty, the air is restricted to the evaporator coil, causing it to freeze.
If none of this helps get the air cooling and the central air conditioning is noisy, you’ll need to call your central air conditioning technician.
3. Not Cooling Adequately
If the central air conditioning and thermostat are set properly and your home still isn’t adequately cooling, the system may be too small for your home.
Sometimes, like your computer, a central air conditioning system simply needs to be reset. How do I reset my central air conditioning system? That is done in 4 easy steps:
- Shut your central air conditioning system off at the thermostat.
- Flip the circuit breaker off.
- Wait 30 to 60 seconds then turn the circuit breaker back on.
- Then turn the thermostat back on 60 seconds later.
If these steps don’t help your cooling issue, call your technician. Need help with your home air conditioner in Norco and New Orleans, LA? Call the experts at Cajun Comfort at 985-764-8191.
