4 Common Repairs Your Lowcountry Air Conditioner Might Need

What’s Got Your AC Down & Your Temperature Up? These Are The Most Likely Causes!

An air conditioner is a complex machine, taking advantage of physics, thermodynamics and engineering concepts to provide cool, comfortable air to your home. But the more complex a system, the more failure points – so while many times your unit will run for years without a problem, there are still moments when it will break down and need professional repair.

But how can you tell what’s wrong? If we’re being honest, it’s not something you should really worry about – any air conditioning breakdowns should be diagnosed and repaired by a professional HVAC technician. But if you’re curious about what happens to air conditioners most often, and what you can do to proactively avoid them, then read on!

1) Coolant Leaks

Air conditioning coolant is the lifeblood of your unit, giving it the power to cool off your air. If it develops a leak, your problem is twofold; you have to find the leak and get it sealed, and you have to replace the refrigerant that was lost.The cost of repairing the leak will depend on exactly where it’s located, which is another reason why it’s important to have a trained technician inspect your system regularly to identify those leaks before they come major issues.

2) Condensate Drain Line Clogged

The process of cooling your home creates a lot of moisture in your air conditioning unit by way of condensation. That moisture has to go somewhere; that’s where the condensate drain line comes in. This line carries the moisture away where it can’t cause any damage to the AC. However, like any water line, it can get clogged, and this will eventually present a problem. While most units have a backup drain pan to collect water that isn’t draining away, those pans usually include a shutoff switch that trips automatically when the water level gets too high. Thankfully, clearing the drain line is on the cheaper end of potential AC repairs, so if it does happen it won’t hurt your wallet too badly.

3) Failing Thermostat

If refrigerant is the lifeblood of your system, the thermostat is the brain. Whether you have an old-school analog thermostat or a fancy new smart thermostat, its job is to control your system to make sure that the desired temperature is reached and maintained. If it’s not reading the temperature correctly, it could cause your unit to run more than needed – or not at all. Either way, you aren’t getting the comfort you expect. If the thermostat goes out entirely, your system won’t run at all. It’s a pretty straightforward repair, and if you’re still operating with an older thermostat, it might be a great opportunity to upgrade to a flexible new smart thermostat!

4) Fan Trouble

An AC unit operates with two fans. One will blow indoor air over the evaporator coil to cool it down; the other blows air over the outdoor condenser unit to remove heat. If either of these break down, your unit won’t operate correctly – and there are multiple reasons they could break down. The belts could snap, or motors could wear out – and you’ll be left with poor airflow and an air conditioner that can’t get the job done. Furthermore, that problem can quickly spread to more expensive components like your compressor, so it’s best to address an issue like this as soon as possible.

Keep An Eye Out!

You know your home and your air conditioner better than anybody, so you should be able to tell when something is amiss. When you notice it sounds weird, or isn’t keeping things as cool as it normally does, don’t wait – minor issues can become giant problems before you know it. Send us a message online or call us at 843-706-5090 to schedule service today!