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Diagnosing an Air Conditioner Problem | Tips from Your Cypress, TX Air Conditioning Service Provider

Diagnosing an Air Conditioner Problem | Tips from Your Cypress, TX Air Conditioning Service Provider

Photo By Geo Martinez at Shutterstock

Living in Cypress, TX, means you have to deal with plenty of heat, and there’s nothing worse than having faulty air conditioning when you need it most. Most air conditioning problems can be prevented with regular air conditioning service and maintenance, but you never know when disaster is going to strike. It’s important that you know some of the common AC problems and how you can recognize them so you know when to call a professional. Fortunately, we’ve got a full breakdown to help you diagnose whatever problem your AC may be having and determine how severe it is.

Coil Problems

One of the things you have to be most careful about when it comes to maintaining your AC is keeping the coils in good shape. Evaporator and condenser coils are what allow your AC to create cool air, so coil problems are a common cause for air conditioning service.

In order for your evaporator coils to work properly, they need to have warm air circulating around them. When these coils get too cold, they can freeze and leave you with an AC that supplies warm air.

The condenser coils are responsible for getting rid of excess heat and are part of the outdoor unit. These coils tend to get clogged up with dirty and debris, so you have to clean them regularly if you don’t want to pay for frequent air conditioning service. You can tell if the condenser coils are dirty with a quick glance.

Fan Problems

The evaporator and condenser coils may be responsible for creating the cool air that goes into your Cypress, TX, home, but the fan plays a big role in that. There are two fans in your AC unit: one for the evaporator coils and one for the condenser coils.

Problems with one of your fans can lead to poor airflow and a unit that simply doesn’t do its job, but that’s not even the biggest reason fan problems require air conditioning maintenance as soon as possible. When the fans in your AC unit stop working, it can cause big problems with other parts of your AC. The biggest potential problem is compressor failure, which is known to be one of the biggest AC problems.

If your AC isn’t working right, call a professional to look at your fans as soon as possible.

Refrigerant Leaks

In order to create cool air from seemingly nothing, your AC unit needs to be charged with refrigerant. This refrigerant is what allows your AC to take the warmth and humidity out of the air in your home, so a refrigerant leak is definitely a good reason to call an air conditioning service.

Not only do refrigerant leaks cause problems with the AC in your Cypress, TX, home, they can also be dangerous because refrigerant isn’t something you want to be breathing and touching if you don’t know what you’re doing.

If you notice refrigerant leaking from a line or your AC isn’t cooling your home sufficiently, call an air conditioning service expert right away to get it fixed.

Clogged Drains

Air conditioners remove a lot of moisture from the air, and that moisture needs to go somewhere. Normally, the moisture is sent through a line where it collects in a drain pan and is then removed from the unit through another drain line.

When one of these drain lines gets clogged, it can cause water to back up in the unit. You should call air conditioning service professionals right away if you notice water backing up in your outdoor AC unit. Aside from the fact that unclogging a drain line or drain pan is a job for a professional, it’s also important to solve the problem quickly so your home isn’t damaged by the excess water. If you leave this water for too long, mold will eventually grow, too.

Thermostat Problems

Thermostat problems are a common cause for air conditioning service because your AC unit relies on the thermostat to tell it when to start and stop. If you notice your AC is turning off while your home is still much warmer than it should be, you could have a faulty or improperly calibrated thermostat.

Other common thermostat problems include a unit that doesn’t shut off on its own when it should and thermostats that simply do nothing. If you notice a problem with the thermostat in your Cypress, TX, home, you should have an air conditioning service professional take a look at it so you’re not wasting money.

Leaky Ducts

Air ducts are what allow your outdoor AC unit to transport cool air into your home, but there are plenty of problems that can interfere with that. If you’ve got a spot in your home’s air ducts where air is leaking out, it could cost you a lot of money and make your home warmer than it should be.

Another common problem with air ducts is a buildup of dust. Your AC needs proper airflow to run smoothly, so it’s important to make sure your air filter and ducts are in good shape at all times.

If you feel like the indoor air quality in your home is worse or your home isn’t being sufficiently cooled, call an air conditioning service at your earliest convenience.

Here to Help

There’s a lot that goes into being a responsible homeowner, from keeping up on landscaping to taking care of your heating and cooling systems. The good news is, you can save yourself a lot of time and money when it comes to AC repairs by having seasonal maintenance done and keeping an eye on your outdoor unit.

Thanks to Cypress Heating and Air Conditioning, finding a top-quality air conditioning service is easy. We’re dedicated to making sure the HVAC system in your Cypress, TX, home is ready to tackle the harshest winters and hottest summers. If you have an AC problem you need us to check out, call us today at (972) 278-3506.