Air conditioners are complex machines made up of various components that each have their own purpose. The most frequent part to malfunction on an AC unit is the fan motor, as it is constantly running and can be hard to detect any issues with it. Other parts that can fail include the compressor, contactors, thermostat, evaporator coils, air filters, condensers, fuses, fan blades and cover. A blocked or dirty filter is one of the most common causes of air conditioners not working properly.
It is essential to follow the manufacturer's instructions on how often you should change your air filter. Some need to be changed monthly, others every three months, while others are reusable and should be cleaned when they get dirty. To determine if a filter needs to be cleaned, check if any light is passing through it. If not, it's time to clean it up.
Dirty filters not only reduce airflow, but they can also cause the air conditioning unit to freeze. Another simple solution is to make sure that the thermostat (which controls the house's temperature setting) is switched on, that the interior is clean, level, not affected by sunlight and in the correct configuration. If problems persist, there may be another issue. Like the filter, the drain pipe can become clogged with dirt, dust and lint. If it becomes clogged, the drain pan will fill up and water will leak out, which could damage the air conditioning unit or whatever is around the tray. The starting capacitor sends a jolt to activate the motor while the operating capacitor provides a series of shocks to keep the motor running.
If the thermostat is faulty, it can mistakenly tell the air conditioning unit to work when it shouldn't and vice versa. Evaporator coils attract most of the dust from air conditioning machines which tends to interfere with their normal operation. The compressor can fail due to dirty coils that make it run at a higher temperature and therefore may need a replacement. It is always a good idea to be aware of some of the most common problems that can arise with air conditioning. Covering any leaks in your AC unit can provide an additional half ton of air conditioning capacity.
