What are the common causes of air conditioner failures?

In the present age, we seldom care to bother about any of the large numbers of electrical and electronic gadgets that we use every day to make our lives easier – at least not until one of them starts acting up. An air conditioner is one such gadget that we simply cannot afford to overlook during the blistering days of summer because a failure can make our lives miserable. So, it helps to have some idea about the common causes behind air conditioner failure.

  1. Low refrigerant

The heat and humidity in the air around you are removed by the refrigerant inside your AC. These refrigerant lines may develop leaks which result in insufficient refrigerant for cooling the air effectively. The downside is that simply replacing the refrigerant is not a solution to this problem. A well-trained Commercial air conditioning Sydney technician has to step in to detect and fix the holes that have developed in the lines of your office ac. And this can be time-consuming when there are multiple leaks.

2. Frozen evaporator coils

The evaporator coil inside your AC is filled with refrigerant, whose main function is to act like a heat-absorbing sponge. Surprising as it may sound, these coils need warm air to circulate around them for functioning properly. If the airflow gets hampered, the evaporator coil may become very cold causing a layer of ice to develop on the outside. If this happens, warm air or no air at all may come out of your AC supply registers.       

3. Dirty condenser coils

Your AC’s outdoor unit has condenser coils that expel the heat outside the building. These coils may get coated with a layer of grime and dirt, in which case they will not function well. Heat transfer gets impeded and the AC has to toil more to get the same cooling effect, leading to more wear and tear and in the worst case, system failure.

4. Fan problems

Your AC’s evaporator coil relies on a fan blowing indoor air over it to cool the air. The outdoor unit’s condenser also depends on another fan blowing air over it to get rid of absorbed heat. Either of these fans may become faulty because of motor failure, insufficient lubrication, worn belts or excessive dirt. This can result in poor airflow and if left unattended, may lead to compressor failure, which can be disastrous for your AC.

5. Thermostat problems

You can have old dial-type thermostats which are prone to incorrect calibration. In such a case your AC may not receive the proper instructions from the control system. However, fixing this problem is easy as thermostats can be replaced or recalibrated. Programmable thermostats can be a bit tricky to program, so you should read the manual carefully for instructions. If needed, take help of Air conditioning Installation Sydney services.

6. Clogged drains

The moisture that your AC gets rid of is supposed to be ejected into a pan via a drain line and lastly, down a drain. Now the drain or line may get clogged or the pan may become full. This can result in a backflow of water, causing damage to your system. You may also get water leaks that adversely affect walls, ceilings and furnishings. 

7. Neglecting annual maintenance

This is one thing that you cannot afford to do at any cost. An expert technician has can detect problems before they occur. Thus, it is vital that you get the AC coils cleaned and have it inspected at least once annually. Neglecting this maintenance activity may result in the annulment of your manufacturer’s warranty in case a covered problem shows up.

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