What’s Wrong with My Air Conditioner?

Summer’s coming—is your air conditioner up to the task? Hopefully you already had your air conditioner maintenance appointment, because it’s looking like this will be a hot one!

Air conditioner maintenance should correct most issues before they become major problems, but particularly hot summers can still cause problems for certain systems, especially as they get older.

If you experience an issue with your air conditioner, it can be helpful to know what the cause of the issue may be so you know when to call for repair.

At Michael Bonsby HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical, we offer AC repair in the Gaithersburg, MD area. With over 20 years of experience, you can always contact us if you have questions or need help with your AC unit.

Common AC Problems

The following is a list of the most common things that can cause your air conditioner to stop cooling this summer:

Clogged air filters – you’ll likely be running your air conditioner pretty much 24/7 during the summer months, which makes it extremely important that you remember to change your air filters monthly. Dirty filters restrict airflow through your air conditioner, which causes a few problems:

• Your system will not be able to cool your home effectively
• Your air conditioner will not be able to move moisture off the cooling coil, which will cause it to freeze up

Frozen evaporator coil – a frozen evaporator coil can cause your air conditioner to break down. Poor air conditioner airflow, dirty air filters and coils, and a lack of refrigerant are all common causes of frozen evaporator coils.

Blocked condenser – another extremely common problem during the summer occurs when your condenser (the outdoor unit of your air conditioner) gets blocked by plants or debris. Your air conditioner works by pulling heat out of the air in your home and transferring it to the outside by using the condenser to radiate the heat away.

Without enough clearance space, your air conditioner will have to work harder to remove adequate amounts of heat—it’s still possible, but it will put an additional strain on your system that will cost you more money and may cause your air conditioner to burn out more quickly than usual.

Improper refrigerant charge – though rarely the homeowner’s fault, improper refrigerant charge, whether it’s too high or too low, can have a major impact on your system’s operation and efficiency. Some of the problems with improper refrigerant charge include the following:

• Low refrigerant charge can cause a loss of cooling capacity and make your system more expensive to run. It can also cause your compressor motor to overheat. One of the more surprising effects of low refrigerant charge is it can actually cause your evaporator coil to freeze!
• An overcharged air conditioner will lose cooling capacity and cooling efficiency, as well as the ability to dehumidify. Worse, overcharging can cause your compressor to permanently fail.

Poor refrigerant charge may be the result of a leak or by a technician who did not charge it properly while installing your system. Whatever the reason, air conditioner inspection should identify the problem.

Incorrect sizing – in order to run as efficiently and effectively as possible, your air conditioner needs to be properly sized to your home. When you call Michael Bonsby for Gaithersburg air conditioner installation, the first thing we do is calculate the proper size for your system to it runs as well as it can for as long as it can.

Don’t see your issue? Check out our other blog to learn why your AC is making a strange noise, or why your AC keeps blowing fuses.

AC Repair in Montgomery County, MD

This summer is going to be a hot one, so keep an eye out for these issues. And if you need air conditioner repair in the surrounding Maryland or Washington DC areas, contact Michael Bonsby HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical today!