Showing posts with label Air Conditioner repairs. Show all posts

What to do when AC does not turn on?

It is not wrong to say that we heavily rely on Air Conditioners to beat the heat and when we have an infant or elderly at home, it becomes essential to have fully functional AC for their overall health and wellbeing.

Firstly, the Air conditioner should not be taken for granted because when it breaks down, we can’t keep the serenity and straightly get mad. Before you fret, it’s better to assess the problem and identify the real reason behind this trouble. However, it sometimes gets difficult to figure out the exact issue – especially when AC has not been timely serviced.

The most common reasons AC won’t turn on

It’s common for homeowners to experience a problem with their ac unit occasionally. Before you rush to avail the services of an HVAC technician, follow the steps outlined below to identify and solve the problem.

Faulty motors:

Have you heard the unusual sounds before the unit stopped working altogether? If yes, then it is more likely the issue lies on the motor. To be surer, do a capacitor test to find out whether the problem is actually with the motor or not.

Faulty compressors:

The defective or broken compressor often makes the air conditioner to shut down. Timely cleaning and maintenance can go a long way to help prevent these problems.

The thermostat needs to be replaced:

A broken or outdated thermostat that either needs a battery or has some other technical fault can immediately stop the ac from turning on. If you have the basic knowledge for HVAC, you can conveniently identify the issue by yourself or go through the various settings of the Thermostat to make sure it works properly.

Dirty condenser lines:

Condenser lines that have mold, algae grown-up can sometimes be a reason for the air conditioner's sudden breakdown. The AC condenser unit is generally outside the home, and you can clean all the mess inside with white vinegar.

The fuse is not working:

You can do a continuity test with a multimeter to find out whether the fuse is working correctly or not. If you hear no beep in the multimeter, then the reason behind AC not turning is: “blown fuse”.

Tripped circuit breaker:

When there is a massive electricity overload, it is very likely for the circuit breaker to trip and interrupt the power flowing. The reason behind breakers tripping can be using too many appliances at the same time or having outdated equipment that consumes more electricity.

Replace or repair the unit:

AC problems are frustrating and even worse when the AC does not turn on altogether. Generally, modern Air Conditioners have a life expectancy up to 15-20 years. However, timely maintenance can extend the useful life to a significant extent. It is best to replace the 12 years old unit with a more cost-effective unit. If the Ac is not that old and repair does not cost you more than 50% of the overall value of the unit, then better go for repair.

Posted by Heating And Cooling

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A DIY guide for fixing iced up Air Conditioner

Whether you're using a Central Air Conditioner, a Split system or a window unit, AC icing up is a scenario that you must have faced if you're already using Air Conditioner for several years. Although this is a frustrating situation and often puts a homeowner in the worries of whether it is time for him to replace his system, it is not a difficult to fix the problem and neither a one that necessarily requires a professional's help. In this blog, we are going to help you find you why your Air Conditioner freezes up and what you can do when that happens.

Insufficient Air Flow

Air Conditioners work on the principle of throwing inner heat out on the evaporator coil and then bringing the cool air back. But when the Air Conditioner fails to evacuate indoor heat, the evaporator coil doesn't get sufficient heat to keep going with normal operation and instead freezes up as a protest. Well yeah!

Low refrigerant = Icing up

The refrigerant used in Air Conditioners is usually Freon which is a gas. During operation as the gas expands, the cooling effect is produced. When there's only a limited amount of gas left and the pressure/temperature settings are the same, the gas expands to create an overly cool temperature. As a result, all the moisture/dampness around the evaporator coil turns into ice causing icing.

Temperature changes

Many times, the reason behind AC icing up is the change in the outdoor temperatures. As the temperature drops, the pressure in the unit drops which result in icing up.

Mechanical failures and icing up

Among the most common reasons comes the mechanical failure issues. Blocked air filters, twisted or torn refrigerant lines, improper blower fan operation, all of these have the tendency to cause icing up of the AC unit.

Solutions for fixing iced up AC unit

Let's now talk about some solution to fixing the iced up Air Conditioner unit.

- Clogged Filters as we mentioned above become the reason for causing icing. Check the AC's air filter for blockage. Consider using good quality filters that are also compatible with the system you have and change them at least after 3 months.

- The evaporator coil needs to have a smooth air flow through it. As it gets dirty, there's a blockage of airflow and this results in icing. Make sure the evaporator coils are clean

- A dirty ductwork restricts the air flow and causes the same consequences as the blocked filter does. The air flow restricts and therefore, icing is caused at the outdoor unit

Final word

Keeping appliances maintained is a good way to keep unexpected sudden repairs at par. Nonetheless, HVAC situations like AC icing up, insufficient cooling, AC shut off and similar issues are common and can be faced even by people who do keep their appliances maintained so it is good to keep yourself equipped with the necessary knowledge of their why's and how's.
We hope this blog helped you learn the basics of AC iced up scenario.