Common Air Conditioner Malfunctions

Air conditioning service will prolong the life of your air conditioner and can prevent costly repairs. In addition to a longer life, proper maintenance keeps your equipment operating an optimum efficiency, which can lower your energy bills.

If your equipment has not been serviced in a while or has shown signs of a problem, it is best to have it serviced before the things get worse. Some of the most common air conditioner problems are refrigerant leaks, maintenance failures, drainage issues, sensor problems and electrical control problems.

Refrigerant leaks are difficult to notice as a small problem, however, they become obvious the larger they become. A slow leak means your system needs to work harder, costing you more money on energy bills and putting stress on your system that can take years off its lifespan. Leaks are caused by many things; proper maintenance however will typically show a small leak before it becomes a big one. It is possible for a system to be under charged with coolant at installation, but it is uncommon.

Electrical control failure is common; the compressor and fan controls wear out. This is common when the unit turns on and off frequently, such as in oversized systems. An air conditioning service check would advise you of the potential issues an oversized unit could have. The only time an oversize unit should be used in a building is if there is a planned addition to the structure. However, even in these cases, it is best to choose a smaller machine until the addition is completed.

Air conditioners use a sensor near the evaporator coil, which tells the condenser when to turn on, to adjust the temperature of your building. If this sensor is knocked out of position, the air conditioner can behave erratically. It takes very little to move this sensor; nearby machinery can be enough to shake it loose. Another small issue that can cause large problems is poor drainage. The condensate drain ensures water is routed away from your system, if it isn’t, it can freeze into ice and cause a substantial amount of damage.

Most of these issues can be prevented by using an air conditioning service to perform routine maintenance on your equipment. Routine maintenance should include cleaning of the filters and coils as well as checking fans, tubes and drainage pipes for functionality. These things may seem small, but they can foreshadow larger issues, which may be prevented if found in advance.

Does your air conditioning need a maintenance service? Call us now on 1300 366 959.