It’s mid-August, and that means we’re coming closer to the end of summer. The air conditioner that works to keep your home cooled down has probably done a significant amount of work during the last few months, and that’s why it’s a wise idea to pay close attention to it during this time of year. Even with regular maintenance in spring to tune-up your air conditioner, all the strain of the summer workload can turn into malfunctions. The sooner you catch the problems, the less likely that you’ll end up trapped in the late summer heat with a busted AC.
Here are some air conditioner problems you might see this time of year:
Failed Capacitors
Capacitors send electrical voltage to the motors that run the fans and the compressor. Exposure to heat over many days can cause a capacitor to start to lose its ability to retain an electrical charge. If a capacitor fails, the motor will not be able to start up or continue to run. Call for repair technicians to replace the failed capacitor.
Dirty outdoor coils
Dust and dirt can begin to accumulate along the outside condenser, and some may enter the cabinet and create a layer of grime over the condenser coil. If this happens, the AC will not be able to release heat effectively to the outside. The air conditioner’s performance level will drop and the system may begin to short-cycle (turning on and off rapidly). You cannot clean the coils yourself; it requires professionals using special chemical foam.
Clogged air filters
Have you remembered to regularly change the air filter in your air conditioner? If you haven’t done it yet, it’s probably overdue. (Some filters need to be changed more than others, but any filter will need to be changed at least once during the summer.) If you let the clogging continue to build up in the filter, it can cause the evaporator coil to freeze over and air pressure from the vents to plunge.
Whatever issues you may notice, be sure to give our HVAC technicians a call when you need help!
Red Rock Mechanical LLC has served Northwest Vermont and the Plattsburgh, NY area for more than 23 years.
