Ah, summer…it’s the season of barbeques, beach trips, and unfortunately, sometimes also that of dreaded AC mishaps. There’s nothing quite as frustrating as facing a sweltering North Charleston afternoon, without a properly working AC unit, right? When you need North Charleston AC repair, trust the professionals at Smoak’s Comfort Control.
AC Won’t Turn On
Let’s start with a common one: You’re feeling the heat, you attempt to adjust your thermostat, and nothing. Your AC won’t turn on. Why is that? There are a few things that could be at fault here.
Weird Noises
Imagine settling down for a nice, relaxing, and peaceful evening, only to hear odd noises coming from your air conditioning unit. Everything from buzzing and humming to clunking and banging. These strange noises can be signs of many different issues.
Loose parts, refrigerant leaks, and failing motors can all cause unsettling noises. Listen to what your air conditioner is telling you – if it’s making a ruckus, it’s a good idea to call an HVAC professional sooner rather than latter to prevent further damage.
AC Leaking Water or Refrigerant Leak
When it’s hotter than a Carolina Reaper outside, the last thing you need is an indoor pool courtesy of your AC leaking water.
A common reason for this is a clogged condensate drain line. This is the pipe that carries condensation away from your AC system. When it gets blocked, water backs up and you’ve got a leak. Another potential reason is a faulty condensate pump.
Either way, it’s best to get this repaired quickly to avoid water damage in your residential or commercial property.
Little to No Airflow
You’re waiting for that sweet and calming gust of cool air, and instead, you’re met with a disappointing puff. If your AC is on, but there’s little to no airflow, a common culprit could be a dirty air filter.
Our advice? Regularly replace or clean your air filters – doing so can make a huge difference. However, if the issue persists, it could indicate a more serious issue, like a failing blower motor or damaged ductwork.
AC Unit Not Blowing Cold Air
Nothing says ‘Common AC problems’ like an air conditioner not blowing cold air. You’re expecting relief from the heat, and instead, you’re met with lukewarm disappointment.
When this happens, this could indicate your low on refrigerant, your unit could be dirty, or the air ducts are clogged. This is one of those times when you’ll want to hire an HVAC expert to diagnose and fix the issue to remove warm air from inside your property.
AC Running Constantly
When the outdoor temperatures start to rise, many people think their air conditioner running constantly is a good thing because it’s keeping your home cool and comfortable. Unfortunately, it’s one of the most frequent AC issues throughout the summer. It’s normal for the cooling system to run more when it’s warm outside, but it shouldn’t be running constantly.
These common problems can have different causes. Your system may have a dirty condenser coil, an outdated filter, an issue with the thermostat, or an electrical problem.
When you delay getting it repaired, it will lead to a higher energy consumption. You can try turning off the thermostat temporarily, but a professional can diagnose the problem for you.
AC Blowing Hot Air
There are few things more frustrating than trying to beat the hot weather and your air conditioning unit only blows hot air. It’s honestly a homeowner’s worst nightmare in the summer months.
When this happens, it’s possible that the air filter from the outdoor unit is dirty, the air ducts are obstructed, or there is debris that’s causing the compressor to overheat. You can start by replacing your air filter and seeing if that solves your cooling system issue. If it doesn’t, it’s time to call the professionals.
HVAC System Repeatedly Turning On and Off
Your air conditioner will turn on and off occasionally as it cools your home, but it shouldn’t be turning on and off rapidly or in the middle of cooling. This is also known as short cycling and can be a major problem if you don’t get it addressed quickly. If you’re lucky, the problem occurs due to a clogged filter, or your thermostat is faulty.
On the other hand, there’s a possibility that your cooling system is not sized correctly for your home and won’t stop short cycling. Our team of professionals can help you determine if you have the proper sized air conditioner for your home.
AC Freezing
When you look at your cooling unit and you see ice buildup around the evaporator coils, it’s a sign that the air conditioner is working too hard. You might not think this ice buildup is a bad thing, but it is. Not only do air conditioners work overtime when this happens, but it can also damage your evaporator coil and drive your energy bills through the roof.
The problem could be rectified by cleaning out dirt buildup from around the evaporator coil, or it could require more effort to get it back functioning properly. In some cases, you’ll need to call a professional to deal with your frozen evaporator coil. We can be able to get your unit back up and running in no time.
AC Unit is Tripping the Circuit Breaker
When using anything in your home that requires electricity occasionally the breaker can trip. Your air conditioning system should rarely cause a blown breaker. If your air conditioning unit is tripping your breaker every time it runs, you have a problem on your hands.
A tripped breaker can really disrupt what you have going on and even cause hot air to seep inside and warm your house. One reason that this is happening is that you had a poor AC installation. An experienced HVAC technician can assess your system and rewire your breaker if necessary.
AC Unit Has a Funny Smell
Common air conditioner problems include when you have a smell coming from your indoor air conditioner. Everyone knows about how when you first turn your heat on it can smell, but that goes away. If you’re running your air conditioning system and its constantly smelling, it can indicate loose wires, or your air filter is clogged.
Both dirty air filters and wiring issues can cause a burning smell to happen every time the system blows air. Even if it’s not clogged, a gross air filter can cause an odor to occur. On the other hand, if you smell a sour mildew smell, then that’s a sign of improper drainage. You’ll need to have someone look at the drain pan and make recommendations.
Remembering to replace your air filters or a regular basis and scheduling preventative maintenance for your HVAC system can ensure everything is operating properly and prevent airflow problems while increasing its efficiency and effectiveness.
AC Unit is Leaking Refrigerant
Refrigerant leaks are very common throughout South Carolina especially during the summer months. As your unit leaks this component, low refrigerant levels can cause more issues than just the leak in your home. Low refrigerant can lead to decreased efficiency and cause your unit to not function properly.
Reasons why your system might be leaking refrigerant is because of a faulty compressor or your evaporator coil is freezing. This can also lead to uneven cooling, air duct leaks, and more.
Adjust Your Thermostat Correctly
So, what should you keep your AC on in the summer months to avoid these issues? While this can vary a bit depending on personal preferences, the specific layout of your home, a general recommendation is to set your thermostat to around 78 degrees when you are home.
Final Thoughts
Keep in mind, maintenance is key to avoiding most of these common AC problems. Routine maintenance from a reliable James Island HVAC professionals can catch small issues before they turn into larger, more expensive problems, saving you time, money, and the unneeded stress and anxiety.
Additionally, if your AC system does malfunction, don’t ignore it, or delay getting it repaired. Even minor issues like a weird noise or slightly warmer airflow, can be an early indication that a bigger problem is down the road. Quick action is your best friend in these situations. The sooner you address these problems, the better off your system and your summer comfort will be.
As steamy as our summers get, there’s no need for you to suffer from a faulty AC and have warm air throughout your home. With a bit of care, vigilance, and help from an honest and dependable team, you can keep your AC is top shape all year long.
Stay safe, North Charleston, and enjoy your summer. Whether you’re cooking out in the backyard or simply enjoying a glass of sweet tea on the porch, a properly working air conditioner can make the experience much better. Don’t let these common AC issues ruin your summer and keep your system functioning properly year-round.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment for AC repair in North Charleston and the surrounding areas!