By Ainsley Ovenden
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August 2, 2022
AC Isn’t Blowing Out Cold Air When AC units don’t blow out cold air it’s usually because of a dirty or blocked air filter. Dirty air filters will block airflow and can also result in your condenser unit freezing up. To reduce the buildup of dirt, regularly clean your air filters at least once every 3 months, ideally once a month. Replace clogged or dirty filters with new ones when necessary. Condenser Has Frozen Outside When your outdoor unit freezes, there are a few possibilities as to the cause. This can happen due to poor airflow, low outside temperatures, low coolant levels, or motor problems. The first thing you should check if your condenser unit has frozen is your air filters to see if they need to be cleaned or replaced. The reason a dirty air filter can cause your condenser to freeze is that the evaporator coil connects to the condenser outside through a refrigerant line. When your filters aren’t properly maintained, the airflow suffers. While the refrigerant line normally removes heat from your house, lack of airflow means it can no longer pull the heat through this line and the refrigerant becomes abnormally cold and as a result, can freeze. Refrigerant Leak Refrigerant leaks cause changes in temperature which can cause a host of problems, such as high power consumption, reduced efficiency, a frozen evaporator coil, a damaged compressor, and uneven cooling. To prevent significant issues to your air quality and ensure your AC unit is working properly, have a professional inspect and fix and refrigerant leaks. Frozen Evaporator Coil As previously mentioned, dirty air filters are one of the most common AC problems that we encounter. It results in poor airflow that results in cooler temperatures in the evaporator coil and any present moisture will cause it to freeze over. Clean, clean, clean your air filters! A blocked air filter or a faulty fan is almost always the culprit. Leaking Water If humidity is high, some minor water leakage is considered normal and not a cause for concern. This can also happen when temperatures reach lower levels and cause the condenser or evaporator coil to freeze. Once temperatures rise again, this ice will melt. However, severe leaks can be caused by blocked or dirty filters, a blocked or improperly installed drain line, low coolant levels, or a broken condensate pan. Regular inspections and maintenance are vital to preventing issues that cause leaks. At Hills Air Conditioning, we check coolant levels, clean the system, and prevent the need for costly replacements by making minor repairs. AC Will Not Turn On If your air conditioner does not turn on, first check that the thermostat has fully operational batteries and that it is not due to a faulty setting. If the AC still will not turn on, you could have a tripped circuit breaker or there is a part in your AC system that is broken and needs replacement. If you had many electrical appliances plugged in at once, it’s more likely the circuit breaker. Simply flip the switch off and on to fix this. If it doesn’t come back on, check if you’ve blown a fuse. Your thermostat could also need to be replaced if it is no longer working. Hot Air If your air conditioner is blowing out hot air, this is typically caused by one of three things: blocked or dirty air filters, an overheated compressor, or low refrigerant levels. As always, you should first check that your filters are super clean. Blocked air filters can cause an overheated compressor. Once your compressor overheats, it can become damaged and may need to be replaced. You should also avoid excessively turning the AC system on and off, as this can damage connections between the compressor and fan. This may be the case if the fan motor is making loud noises. Finally, low refrigerant levels suggest that you have a leak. Book AC Maintenance Services With Hills Air Conditioning You’ve probably noticed a common thread throughout these popular air conditioning issues? When it comes to troubleshooting your AC, the importance of keeping your air filters clean can not be overstated. We recommend that you regularly clean your air filters yourself at least every 3 months and have them professionally cleaned every year. Service and maintenance prevent costly repairs and system replacements so you can get many more years out of your AC system.