With temperatures traditionally still in the 80s well through September, we have plenty of time to keep on using our air conditioners. But, what if yours isn’t doing its job as efficiently or as effectively as it should?
Summer time is without a doubt the worst time for your air conditioner to accumulate problems. Unfortunately though, it’s usually the most common time for these problems to come up, and for you to need Nashville, TN AC repair services. A drop in cooling output is a leading sign that something is wrong with your air conditioning system. If you notice this problem, be sure to reach out to us—and in the meantime, keep reading for some reasons this might be happening.
Refrigerant Leak
Homeowners often don’t realize how essential refrigerant is to the operation of their air conditioner. Your cooling system evaporates refrigerant in order to absorb thermal energy from the air in the ducts. The refrigerant gas then travels down the line to the condenser coil outside, where it is then condensed back into a liquid, to vent the collected thermal energy outside of the home.
Refrigerant is not something that vacates the system—conversely, the refrigerant supplied to your HVAC system upon installation should last its entire lifespan—so if you are losing any, it means that you have a leak. As refrigerant levels drop, so will your system’s cooling output. And eventually, your cooling system will shut down, if the source of the leak isn’t found and properly repaired.
Short-Cycling
This process describes what occurs when your AC system shuts itself off and turns back on every few minutes. This often happens because the cooling system is too large for the home to begin with—which is a problem you would notice right after installation. Other reasons that short-cycling might occur though include that you may have a short between the thermostat and the air conditioner, or there might be a problem with your compressor.
The compressor is partially responsible for the operating rhythm of your cooling system. If short-cycling happens for too long, then the AC will wear down much faster than it otherwise would have, making problems happen more often.
Air Handler Trouble
If your air conditioner just doesn’t seem to be circulating enough air, then the problem is likely in your air handler. This is the part of your AC system that’s responsible for circulating air through your home during operation. It’s comprised of a large motor, with a fan attached. Moving that much air creates strain for the air handler, which can cause issues.
The air handler includes bearings, which help it run more smoothly. However, even these need to be replaced every now and then. If you notice a loud grinding sound accompanying the lowered cooling output of your air conditioner, then you should have a professional check the air handler. If it is malfunctioning, then it simply cannot circulate air throughout your home as it should, resulting in lower output.
At Covenant Heating and Cooling, we are “dedicated to the promise of serving you.” Contact us today!