So, you’ve just dashed into your home’s comfort, fled from the scorching 70-degree plus outside to cool yourself— all to find that your air conditioner isn’t working.
The common scenarios of a malfunctioning AC are:
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- the AC fan isn’t working.
- the AC isn’t cooling your surroundings.
- you might’ve been hearing unusual noises from the machine.
- it’s not turning on or off at all.
Getting professional help for your AC is time-consuming and expensive.
But if you’re aware of the possible reasons, you can maintain your AC properly, so it doesn’t fail to cool your house when needed.
We’re sharing with you seven common reasons why your AC isn’t working.
So, let’s get to the reasons promptly.
7 Common Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner Isn’t Working
As you know, an air conditioner is a complex appliance containing many sophisticated parts and components. So, it’s hard to know which component is responsible for the AC’s malfunction.
Sometimes, the possible culprit could be the air conditioning filters, coils, or fuses. Some other times, it’s the capacitor, transformer, or HVAC parts.
Which one to point out and service? So, stop scratching your head and go through the common air conditioner issues below. You’ll have a better picture of why your prized AC isn’t working properly.
The AC Fan Isn’t Working
An out-of-order fan in an AC is a common reason for its malfunction.
If you notice something like this, the reasons are as below:
- A Bad Capacitor
The capacitor is the powerhouse of your air conditioner system. It keeps the AC running with the required power all the time. If you hear a humming noise from the AC, you may want to have it checked by a professional.
Also, don’t ignore random shut-off, delay conditioning, short cycling, etc., which may be traced back to a bad capacitor. Call a professional without any delay to fix this.
- The Fan Motor is Burnt-out
A fan inside the AC goes through a harsh time as it keeps cooling your environment. In the process, it may go through several wears and tears, ending up with a burnt-out motor.
If you notice the fan blades are turning slow or not turning at all, call for professional help immediately.
- A Bad Condensate Pump
A bad condensate pump is unable to pump the water out of the air conditioner. It’s a short-lived device that helps both heating and cooling functions. You can test its condition by yourself.
Take some water and press the test button on the pump. If it pumps the water out, it’s working just fine. However, if it trips the furnace and creates a water pool, your condensate pump needs professional fixing.
The AC Isn’t Cooling Your Room As Required
The main reasons behind your AC’s bad cooling condition are as follows:
- A Dirty Air Filter
That air filter in your air conditioner needs regular cleaning. If it’s blocked with dirt and dust, it’ll interrupt the natural airflow.
A dirty air filter consumes more electricity, causing you higher monthly bills. And worse, it may even turn off your AC for good.
So, clean your AC’s air filter regularly to keep the AC running. You may also consider changing the air filter when it’s expired.
- An Improper Thermostat
You can easily check the AC’s thermostat by yourself. Check whether it’s set to heat the whole system or its temperature is too high.
Having any of these problems with the thermostat might be causing your AC not to work properly.
- The Vents are Blocked
Vents are responsible for spreading the cold air into the room. But if they’re blocked for some reason, it may not be able to do that properly. Check if the vents are blocked due to dust or dirt.
Small toys or closed dampers may also be the reason behind this blockage. Clean the vents regularly and keep dirty furniture or objects away from the AC to avoid future blockage.
It’s Not Turning On or Off
Your air conditioner may not turn off or on properly due to the following reasons:
- Condenser Coil is Dirty
Another dirt-related problem. Yes, the condenser coil can also be blocked due to dirt or dust.
Since the coil is responsible for taking the heat out of the system and your house, a dirt build-up may trap the heat inside. It may jam the machine and cause trouble working.
- Evaporator Coil is Frozen
Your AC system may run indefinitely without cooling the house properly if there’s a refrigerant leak in the system. This crucial problem needs immediate professional attention. So, call a professional without wasting any time.
It’s Making an Unusual Noise
Don’t panic if you hear an unusual squealing, rattling, or buzzing sound in your room in the middle of the night. That ominous sound might be coming from your air conditioner itself.
It’s a way of telling you that something’s not right with the system. There might be an electrical issue or a loose component inside the AC. So, turn that AC off right now and book an HVAC consultation service.
The AC Transformer is Blown
A bad conductor in the AC’s outdoor unit may often cause the transformer to blow up. Another reason may be a wire short.
Whatever the reason is, your air conditioner won’t work until you replace the transformer. So, switch that out if it’s blown and replace it as soon as possible.
The AC’s Fuse is Blown
You should be concerned with two fuses actually. A fuse blow-up may be traced in the thermostat, whereas the other might be found in the AC’s system.
Whichever fuse it is, you have to call a professional to replace the fuse, so your AC can start working again.
Don’t try it yourself unless you’re professionally trained in it. An inefficient attempt might cost you your expensive air conditioner for life.
The HVAC Components are Damaged
Some problems may occur in your air conditioner due to external mishaps. A few components inside an AC are sophisticated and delicate. They require as much maintenance for durable service.
But things may go wrong if you’ve mistakenly hit the machine with something heavy (or kicked it out of rage!). Have your kids thrown something at it like a ball, toy, or heavy device? Or, maybe it was damaged by a worker during your home improvement!
Such undesired incidents may hamper your air conditioner’s regular functioning or shut it down for good. So, if you can’t assess or fix the problem, call for a professional inspection and solution quickly.
Conclusion
So, did you find any of the above reasons closely related to your air conditioning problems?
Your air conditioner is undoubtedly one of the most expensive appliances in your house no matter which brand, model, or type you’ve purchased. But don’t let it run unsupervised as it might later cost you more than what you’ve asked for.
We hope you’ve found these reasons helpful. But we urge you not to operate on your AC unless you’re professionally equipped. Maintain it properly and call for professional service to get a cool breeze flowing back again in your house.
