AC Repair: Troubleshooting Problems

There are a lot of components that make up the central air conditioning unit, and in order to trouble shoot what is wrong with you’re a/c you need to understand a wide variety of components that make up the system including refrigeration, electricity, electrical components, electric mechanical controls and a/c components. Since the system can be complex it is probably better to have a trained HVAC specialist look at and diagnose the unit rather than attempt repairs yourself, but you should also be familiar enough with your ac unit so you understand how to maintain it.

There are two types of a/c units, the package system, in which all the components are in one unit, and the split system. The one unit ac is relatively rare and most consumers are more familiar with and use the split unit in which one part of the unit is installed in the home and the other part is connected with wires, as well as refrigeration lines and is located outside of the home.

Despite the many different components that make up an air conditioning unit, the majority of issues can be traced to the compressor.

A bad compressor is the most common culprit and is fairly easy to spot. To check the compressor, turn of the power to the unit and open the outdoor unit’s cover. A compressor has a shelve life and when it goes bad it usually swells up or blows apart. When it blows apart it will leave a goopy mess of oil around it and chances are if you are looking at a leaky oil mess this was probably a bad compressor that you didn’t catch in time. The good news is compressors can be replaced fairly quickly by a trained technician, usually on the spot.

Another problem especially common in areas prone to insect activity is to have the outdoor unit compromised with insect activity. The insects can interfere with the contact points and cause the unit to malfunction. If you live in an area that has a high rate of insect activity, especially ants, it is a good idea to blow the unit out with air before starting it for the season.

Ice is another element of nature that does not respond kindly to the outdoor air conditioning components. Ice can be created from the morning dew freezing in the cold morning air, just enough to cause the contact points to weld together and freeze up. This can also happen in the colder winter months when the second part of your split ac unit sits unprotected in the elements; therefore, it’s always a good idea to be preventive and weatherize your unit to prevent damage that may not become apparent until summer.