Posted on by admin

Not Cool! Three Common Reasons For Air Conditioner Breakdowns – And What To Do About Them

Posting Date: July 18, 2017
Posted by: John Barbato, Branch Manager, Orlando and Daytona

It usually happens on the hottest day of the year, when all you can think about is getting back to your cool, comfortable air-conditioned home. Then you get there and realize your A/C has broken down – just when you need it most.

Here are three common reasons why this happens, and what you can do about them.

  1. A clogged air filter – The air filter on your A/C protects you allergens and irritants that can make your air less healthy to breathe. But when it’s clogged, that filter can quickly turn into an efficiency burden – or worse. Dirty air filters block airflow, forcing your AC to work harder than it needs to cool your home; this overwork will continue until your air conditioner overheats and either blows a circuit breaker or shuts down entirely. 

Solution: Check your air filter every month during cooling season – more if you own furry pets – and clean or replace it immediately if needed.

  1. Dirty on the condenser coils – Condenser coils deliver refrigerant, which transfers heat from your A/C’s indoor unit to its outdoor unit. If dirt covers the condenser coils, the refrigerant can’t release the heat– so it continues to build up until your air conditioner overheats. 

Solution: Get a tune-up! Technicians will clean your condenser to remove dirt and debris safely.

  1. Low refrigerant – Not having enough refrigerant will also cause your air conditioner to overheat. Look for these classic signs of low refrigerant:
  • No cool air coming from the vents
  • Ice on the condenser coils (the outdoor unit)
  • Significantly higher than normal cooling bills

Solution: If your refrigerant is low, you’ll need a repair (you can’t add refrigerant to your cooling system like antifreeze in a car). Your Broward technicians will:

  • Confirm there’s a leak
  • Remove leftover refrigerant
  • Repair the leak
  • Re-charge the air conditioner

If you find that your AC needs repairs or charging each cooling season, it’s probably time to invest in a new, high-efficiency unit. Contact Broward today for a FREE estimate!