Air Conditioning Repair Round Rock TX professional can fix most AC problems. However, if your AC system requires a lot of maintenance or uses older, hard-to-find parts or a phased-out refrigerant, replacing it may be more cost effective than repairing it.
Air conditioners need regular inspections and lubrication to run smoothly. Here are ten of the most common air conditioning repairs:
1. Refrigerant Leaks
Refrigerant plays an essential role in your AC system, absorbing heat and releasing it outside. If you have a leak in the refrigerant lines, it reduces this process and your AC struggles to cool your space. You can identify a leak through several common indicators, including:
A decrease in cooling efficiency. A refrigerant leak causes your HVAC system to work overtime in order to maintain the same temperature, leading to higher energy bills and wear and tear on your unit.
Unusual sounds coming from your AC unit, particularly hissing or bubbling noises. These are often signs of a refrigerant leak, though it is important to note that different kinds of leaks produce different sounds. It is best to contact an air conditioning repair professional if you hear unusual sounds to be sure of the diagnosis and treatment.
Ice build-up on your evaporator coil or around the unit. This indicates a refrigerant leak that is allowing refrigerant to escape at low temperatures and freeze the condensation it forms on your coil. It can also lead to damage to your evaporator coil, requiring expensive replacement.
Refrigerants are regulated substances with their own legal requirements for handling and disposal. You must have a professional diagnose and repair any leaks to avoid illegal handling or environmental harm.
Whether you use R-22 or the newer and safer R-410A, any leaking refrigerants pose a risk to the environment and your family’s health. These chemicals are ozone-depleting and have a high global warming potential, making it critical to address all leaks promptly.
Leaking refrigerants are a sign of serious problems with your air conditioning system that need immediate attention. Getting them repaired in a timely manner keeps your energy costs low, extends the life of your equipment, and protects the environment. A professional can handle the safe and responsible handling of refrigerants, as well as recharge your system with the correct type and amount of refrigerant. You can further protect your family and the environment by practicing proper maintenance, scheduling regular inspections with your local HVAC professionals, and addressing any problems immediately.
2. Capacitors
The capacitor is the tiny device responsible for providing your air conditioning with the initial jolt of electricity it needs to start the fan motor and compressor. Without this vital component, these electrical components can’t function at all.
Capacitors wear out over time due to continuous heavy use, although prudent usage patterns and regular maintenance can help them last longer. They also suffer from power surges and lightning strikes, which can overload them. In some cases, the capacitors can even overheat.
Faulty capacitors can create odd buzzing and humming sounds in your system, which can be a clear sign that they’re beginning to fail. A faulty capacitor may also draw excessive currents, which can cause your circuit breaker to trip frequently.
The good news is that replacing a capacitor is relatively simple. It isn’t uncommon for an AC technician to complete this task within less than an hour. To begin with, the HVAC technician will disconnect the capacitor from its wiring and remove its mounting brackets before removing the old device from the condenser unit. Then, the HVAC technician will plug in the new capacitor, connect it to its wires, and test it to make sure that it holds the required charge.
You can also tell that your air conditioner’s capacitor is going bad if it takes longer than usual to turn on and starts up only intermittently. You may also notice that the air conditioner cycles on and off more frequently than normal, which can add stress to your system and speed up its wear and tear.
As with other electrical components, dealing with capacitors can be dangerous if you don’t have the right equipment and expertise. That’s why it’s important to work with an experienced HVAC professional when it comes time to replace your AC’s capacitor. A licensed technician can safely handle this delicate job, and they will have the tools necessary to ensure that your capacitor is of the highest quality. In addition, they can provide you with valuable warranties to protect your investment.
3. Contactors
The contactor is like a switch located inside your AC unit’s outdoor condenser unit that provides power to your system’s compressor and fan motor. When the thermostat signals your air conditioner to turn on, the contactor closes to allow electricity to flow through the system and start cooling your home. But this small but critical component can go bad, and if it does, your AC system might not even turn on at all.
In addition to making sure your air conditioning unit turns on when the thermostat signals it to, the contactor also controls power to your condenser’s fans and blowers. So if you’re noticing humming or buzzing noises, they could be a sign that the contactor has stopped working properly and needs to be replaced.
When a contactor is defective, it can lead to your AC unit running nonstop, which will cause your air quality to deteriorate and result in costly compressor and fan motor repairs. The professionals at Air Conditioner Installation can diagnose this problem by examining the contacts and coils of the contactor to ensure that power is being transferred from one side to another.
If a contactor has pitting, which occurs when it receives excessive voltage, then it will stick and prevent the transfer of electricity between its two contact faces. During a maintenance visit, a professional can clean a contactor’s electromagnetic coils to remove dirt and debris that can interfere with its ability to create a magnetic field to move the armature and turn on the air conditioning unit.
Another sign of a contactor that has gone bad is visible signs of wear, such as melted plastic casings and moldings. Exposure to the high-voltage oil that leaks out of a damaged capacitor can burn or shock an individual who comes into contact with it. But the good news is that, as with any electrical component, a faulty contactor can be repaired and saved by a qualified technician. With proper AC maintenance, contactors should last for many years before they need to be replaced. But when you do need to replace them, you’ll be glad that you had the professionals at Air Conditioner Installation do it properly and on schedule.
4. Blowers and Fans
The fans and blowers in an air conditioning system are vital parts that help it to operate properly. However, they can also be susceptible to malfunctions or failure, just like any other part of the AC unit. Fortunately, these essential components are usually pretty easy to fix or replace. Here are a few things to watch out for, so you know when to call an AC technician for assistance.
Fan speed is a big factor in how much cooling your home gets. The higher the fan speed, the more air that the system can move. However, too high of a fan speed can result in the system overworking and wearing out the motor faster. A good rule of thumb is to keep the fan speed at about 350 CFM per ton.
Blowers are similar to fans, but they have more power and can handle higher pressure ratios. They’re used in industrial processes and HVAC systems that require more power and higher volume. They can be classified into two types: centrifugal and positive displacement. Centrifugal blowers use blades of various designs, such as backward curved or radial, to create velocity. Positive-displacement blowers, on the other hand, use mechanical methods to trap and compress air. They include rotary lobe or rotary screw blowers.
Fans and blowers can become damaged by external sources, such as debris that falls down a defroster duct or into the HVAC plenum and jams the fan motor. They can also become worn down from internal overheating or electrical overloading. The problem is usually exacerbated by dust or oil buildup.
If your fan or blower fails, it can be a little more complicated to diagnose and repair. The blower motor is usually inside the air handling unit, which can be accessed by opening the access panel. To replace a blower motor, an AC technician has to flip the circuit breaker that powers it off, drain its capacitors, and remove and replace the blower fan. This isn’t a difficult task, but it can be time consuming.
A failed contactor can also cause a fan or blower to not turn on, but it can be harder to diagnose and repair because it’s more of a control problem. The contactor is a type of switch that’s responsible for turning other components in the AC system on and off. It can wear out over time, just like the capacitors.
