Written on: July 23, 2021
So far in 2021, we’ve been spared the West’s extreme summer heat here in Pennsylvania – but most experts agree that we won’t avoid it altogether. As temperatures rise, keeping your air conditioning system running efficiently and reliably will become more critical than ever.
Unfortunately, your home cooling system won’t always act the way you want it to.
Here are three common HVAC problems you may encounter this summer. If you do, don’t try to fix them yourself! Contact Ace-Robbins for professional air conditioning service in Wyoming County, PA.
A capacitor is a device that temporarily stores energy – kind of like a battery – before supplying it to your air conditioner’s compressor (the outside fan and the blower fan of an air conditioning unit). There are two types of capacitors in a central air system: a start capacitor, which supplies the energy to activate the A/C motor, and a run capacitor, which keeps that motor going. When one of these capacitors malfunction, it can no longer hold a charge; this can damage the compressor and other parts of your home cooling system.
A capacitor that can no longer hold a charge will make a distinct clicking or humming sound, and may also shut down your cooling system shortly after start-up.
A drain line is a pipe that moves water from the drip pan under the A/C’s evaporator coil to a location outside your home, helping your cooling system maintain optimal humidity levels inside your home. Over time, a drain line can become clogged with dirt, mold, algae, and mildew, causing water to backflow inside your unit and potentially damaging other parts of your cooling system.
Clogged drain lines are easy to identify: look for telltale water leaks from your compressor unit.
Enclosed within the AC coils, refrigerant is a fluid that allows your air conditioner to continuously absorb indoor heat; it is the heart of your home cooling system. Refrigerant levels often drop due to very small leaks in your system that you can’t see with the naked eye; a good technician will typically check for these leaks during an annual tune-up if they see that refrigerant levels are low. It’s important to realize that simply adding refrigerant will often not fix the problem: once a refrigerant leak is discovered, it should be evaluated by an HVAC professional to see if a repair or replacement makes more sense.
The telltale signs of a refrigerant leak are warm air coming from your vents coupled with ice crystals forming on your A/C’s evaporator coils.
HVAC problems like these can cause unexpected stress, but don’t worry: Ace-Robbins is here for you with expert air conditioning repairs and maintenance in eastern PA. If you notice any of signs of the problems above, or have any other issues with your home cooling system, contact us today for expert air conditioning service, 24/7.
