7 Common Air Conditioner Problems Homeowners Experience

According to some research, 91 percent of people in the United States have air conditioning. 

However, that means that there are also a lot of different units that could have AC problems. If you’re in the middle of a hot summer, you’ll want to know how to fix those air conditioner problems.

Keep reading to discover the top AC problems and how to fix them. 

1. Water Leaks

One of the most common AC issues that you might experience is water leaks. It could leak in your indoor or outdoor unit. Either way, if you see this, you should call an HVAC company as soon as possible. 

One of the main reasons that you see a water leak is that a condensate drain gets clogged. It could be clogged with fungi or algae that will cause the water to back up and leak into your home. 

The condensate pump could also have broken down and might need to be replaced. 

If the leak isn’t too bad, you can get a technician to help or even do the solution yourself. You can fix a condensate pipe with a dry vacuum. You can also try pouring vinegar in it to kill any of the algae or fungi. 

However, your outdoor unit can leak as well. You might see a puddle of water underneath the compressor. This could be from a broken condensate pan, a bad installation, a dirty air filter, or a bad AC seal. 

2. No Cooling

You may also have an AC system that isn’t doing its job and not cooling anything. You may have a dirty filter, a low refrigerant level, or a blocked condenser drain. 

You should also see if there is a buildup of ice in the coils. This might be where the refrigerant isn’t making it through to cool your air. 

You may also not be able to get enough air conditioning in the air to cool your house down. Sometimes this means that your unit isn’t strong enough to handle cooling the home. 

Keep in mind that AC units are only designed to cool a home twenty degrees lower than the outside temperature. 

3. Refrigerant Leak

You could also have a refrigerant leak. The refrigerant is known as Freon, and it’s the material that’s used to cool the AC in your system. However, if it’s leaking, you’ll likely only have hot air blowing out rather than cold air. 

A leak can reduce the efficiency of your unit, but it could also be harmful to the environment around it. 

If you only have a small leak, you can top the refrigerant up and apply a small fix. If you have a larger leak, you may need to fix the whole network. 

When you’re recharging the refrigerant, make sure that you don’t under or overcharge it. Make sure that it matches whatever specifications the manufacturer set for it.

You can detect leaks in the home in a few different ways. Once you find the leak, try and repair it if it’s smaller, but if it’s bigger, call an AC professional as soon as possible. 

4. Weird Noises

You may also hear weird noises coming from your unit, but keep in mind that they’re not going to be very quiet. However, if it’s interrupting our daily life, make sure that you investigate where the sounds are coming from.

Strange sounds could be anything from hissing to rattling and address them as soon as possible. These sounds could mean that something in the conditioner is loose. 

If you ignore them and keep using your unit, you could have more problems, and even affect the efficiency of the unit. 

For strange sounds, it’s better to call an expert. They’ll need to take the entire unit apart and analyze all of the parts to see what the problem is. If you try and repair it on your own, you could cause even more damage. 

5. Bad Smells

Some people also notice weird smells, like mildew or mold. If the unit gets too cold, there might be more moisture on the filter which could cause this smell.

However, having too much moisture will attract bacteria, which can make it worse. The moisture could be building up because of a leak, but you shouldn’t try and fix this on your own.

If it is mold, it can be harmful to your health, and trying to fix it on your own could actually spread it throughout your house. 

6. Broken Thermostat

Some people may not be able to use the thermostat in their homes. If you can’t turn the thermostat on, first try checking the battery. You may need to replace it. 

However, if the entire thermostat isn’t working, you may need to replace it. You can normally go to a local hardware store and get one for relatively cheap. 

Sometimes the thermostat won’t turn on if the unit is overworked. It could also be turned off if you have a plugged line. In this case, call a professional. 

7. Won’t Turn On

If your AC won’t turn on, check the power. Make sure that the AC is connected, and that the fuses aren’t blown. 

If the fuse is blown, simply replace it and flip it back to the other side. If that still doesn’t work, a professional may need to inspect it.

Discover More Air Conditioner Problems

These are only a few of the most common air conditioner problems, but there are many other issues that could arise.

When in doubt, make sure that you call an AC technician to look over the problem.

If you’re interested in more home-related topics, check out our website to find even more articles!