What better feeling is there than walking inside your cool home after being outside on a hot, summer day?
There is none!
This is a feeling that no homeowner wants to lose- but easily can. Follow these six tips to see what you can do to prevent your AC unit from failing and costing you more money this summer:
1. Dirty Air Filters
Dirty air filters are the most common cause of an AC unit’s failure. When the air filters are clogged, this means that there is a particulate build-up, which prevents the air from moving around freely.
If your air filter is clogged, you may run into these problems:
- The inability to cool your home properly
- Excessive energy consumption (higher electric bill)
- Poor air quality
These are problems that no homeowner ever wants to experience. Luckily, the solution is simple – just change out your air filters. Most filters cost around $15 for a set of three.
*Note: Before purchasing air filters, make sure that they are compatible with your HVAC unit*
2. Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is a crucial part of your AC unit. It absorbs environmental heat, then provides cool air once run through compressors and evaporators.
During the summer, your AC unit is working as hard as it can to keep your home cool- resulting in the increased use of refrigerant. These tubes that carry the refrigerant are placed under great pressure, and may begin to crack over time. If this happens, your unit’s refrigerant will leak out, causing your home to overheat.
These leaks can be spotted by noticing a liquid near your outdoor condenser coil. If you think you are experiencing a refrigerant leak, schedule an AC repair with one of our technicians today. Refrigerant is a toxic substance, we’d love to take care of it for you and keep you safe!
3. Frozen Evaporator Coils
Refrigerant works hand-in-hand with the evaporator coils in your HVAC unit. These coils transform refrigerant liquid into gas, removing hot air from your home. If these coils get too cold, they can freeze and stop working properly- resulting in AC failure.
Potential causes of frozen coils:
- Refrigerant leak
- Dirty air filters
- A system blockage
If you notice an icy evaporator coil, contact your HVAC team immediately. If you put this off for too long, it may result in your entire unit being damaged, which will require even costlier repairs.
4. Faulty Thermostat
Your AC’s thermostat displays the current temperature of your home and allows you to adjust it to your liking. If your thermostat is not properly calibrated, your AC unit may turn on and off frequently- commonly known as short-cycling.
Here are some of the many consequences of short-cycling:
- Decreasing the overall life of your AC unit
- Wasting energy
- Increased electric bill
- Making your home either too hot or too cold
If you think you have a faulty thermostat, give your HVAC team a call to look at it. There’s a chance they can repair it. Otherwise, you’ll need to purchase a new one.
5. Faulty Blower Fan
Your AC unit’s indoor fan, also known as the blower, is responsible for blowing cool air out of the system and into your home. If your blower fan is not working properly, all of the cool air will stay trapped in the system.
Reasons for a faulty fan:
- An internal obstruction
- Broken fan motor
- Dirty AC system
- Long term wear and tear
Since there are so many factors leading to a faulty blower fan, you’ll want to have an HVAC specialist come and check it out.
6. Avoiding Regular Maintenance
The final reason why you might be dealing with AC failure results from avoiding regular maintenance on your HVAC units. AC units run best when they’re regularly maintained and properly kept. Keeping up with your unit regularly will prevent most of the problems previously mentioned from happening.
It’s a good idea to schedule maintenance on your HVAC unit at least twice a year. During this time, your specialist will:
- Inspect the entire system
- Clean your coils
- Replace your air filters
By preventing problems before they occur, you can assure you will never have to go without AC during the summertime!
Choose Steve’s Heating & Cooling
Since 1975, Steve’s Heating and Cooling has serviced thousands of comfort systems throughout the Northern Kentucky area. From the beginning, we have focused on offering only the best heating and cooling services in Northern KY. We provide quality installation, service, and replacement of heating and air conditioning comfort systems in single system homes, multiple system homes, multi-family dwellings, and commercial properties. Contact us today!