More than 70% of Australian households have some form of air conditioning (ABS 2018). However, many homeowners don’t monitor or maintain their air conditioners. Leaving fault detection until too late. This can result in serious deterioration of the unit and impact your comfort.
Curran’s trained air conditioning professionals have put together the following checklist so you can identify any issues now and in the future.
We take you through the most common air conditioner problems below, including:
Tripped air conditioner
For power stop problems, first look in the fusebox (switchbox) to check if the air conditioner’s circuit breaker or fuse (labelled AC) has been tripped. It may happen after a thunderstorm, or if the power grid restarts after being switched off. You can reset the circuit breaker, but if tripping persists you have an ongoing problem. Blown fuses will need to be replaced.
Actions: Turn off the air conditioner and disconnect its power supply until professional repairs can be made.
Leaking water
If water leaks from the indoor unit, the underlying problem could be:
- The condensate pump has broken down.
- A blockage, possibly algae or fungi, is causing back-up in the condensate pipe
- A refrigerant leak has stopped the AC running.
If water from the outdoor unit is forming puddles, the underlying problem could be:
- a dry air filter
- broken condensate drain/drip pans
- a bad AC seal
- poor quality installation.
Actions: Turn off the air conditioner and disconnect its power supply until professional repairs can be made.
Refrigerant leak
Refrigerant is the substance that cools the air. Leaking air conditioner refrigerant is one of the more common issues, and can be quite serious. An unattended refrigerant leak has implications for your health and the environment, as well as the deterioration of the unit.
You may be able to see, hear or smell the symptoms of a refrigerant leak, for example if you:
- See a collection of really small bubbles on the evaporator coil – caused by tiny holes in the coil that develop
- Hear hissing or gurgling noises – caused by coolant leaking through small holes or cracks in the evaporator coils and making a noise due to the high pressure
- Smell an odd odour, such as a sweet chloroform smell coming from your air conditioner – caused by a coolant leak. Note that some refrigerants are odourless, so an odour is not the only sign of a leak.
Actions: Turn off the air conditioner and disconnect its power supply until professional repairs can be made.
Clogged AC filter
If your AC filter isn’t cleaned regularly (every two months during peak usage periods), it accumulates dust, dirt particles and even pet hairs. This leads to overheating, poor performance, increased energy consumption and unhealthy air quality.
Short-cycling might indicate a dirty AC Filter – as would the fact that you haven’t changed the filter for years.
Actions: Turn off the air conditioner and disconnect its power supply. If your unit has a replaceable sort of air filter, you can install a new filter yourself. You could clean the old one thoroughly but it must be completely dry before re-use. For the future, instil a regular cleaning regime. Consult a professional if the problem persists. Technicians can also advise on smart ACs with controllers that indicate the filter’s status.
Compressor problems
If the unit’s compressor falters, you might notice the unit isn’t working properly, or it might stop working altogether.
Actions: Turn off the air conditioner and disconnect its power supply until professional repairs can be made.
Frozen evaporator coil
This problem can arise even in warm climates and must be resolved quickly. The freezing actually results from dirt and dust gathering around the evaporator coil and heat pump. When this stops warm air from getting through to the refrigerant, the moisture on the evaporator coil can freeze.
Signs include
- Ice on the outdoor refrigerant line
- Overflowing condensate pan
- If you can open it up, the air handler has moisture or condensation on it.
Actions: Turn off the air conditioner and disconnect its power supply until professional repairs can be made.
Capacitor failure
Capacitors that start and run the AC motor can overheat from prolonged AC use in summer, frequent changes in the thermostat’s setting or power surges. Due to the risk of electric shock, professional help is essential.
Signs of a capacitor failure include a clicking noise or the AC turning on or off abruptly.
Actions: Turn off the air conditioner and disconnect its power supply until professional repairs can be made.
Faulty thermostat
The air conditioner’s thermostat can malfunction due to accumulated dust or corrosion, loose screws or wires. Thermostats can be dislodged by accident and require repositioning.
If you have noticed unusual warmth or the AC is short cycling, the thermostat could be the problem.
Similar problems can also arise from the battery needing replacement or leaving the thermostat in direct sunlight, so check that these aren’t the cause.
Actions: Turn off the air conditioner and disconnect its power supply until professional repairs can be made. As well as addressing issues like corrosion, the technician can provide information on getting a smart thermostat that is operated from your phone.
Motor failure
The fan motor pumps air through the air conditioning system and is one of the hardest working parts.
Signals of motor failure in the air conditioner include a grinding sound or buzzing sound or lots of vibration. The fan might operate erratically or not at all.
Actions: Turn off the air conditioner and disconnect its power supply until professional repairs can be made.
Fan failure
A failing fan in the outdoor unit could result from loose wiring or components. Professional intervention is needed to prevent overheating and eventual damage to the compressor. Simple obstructions could also cause fan problems, but the power must be turned off before inspection.
Signs include the outdoor unit’s fan stopping altogether or a clicking sound in the air conditioner if it is a small obstruction.
Actions: Turn off the air conditioner and disconnect its power supply until professional repairs can be made.
Bad odours
The bad news is that unpleasant odours can signal very unpleasant problems. Take notice of these smells:
Gas smell coming from AC – from Methanethiol, which can be dangerous
Fire/burning smell when turning on AC – likely from an electrical component burning inside the system
Rotten egg stench – from bird, insect or lizard getting inside the system and expiring
AC smells like mildew – from mould or mildew growth, usually within the air conditioner’s filter
Actions: Turn off the air conditioner and disconnect its power supply until professional repairs can be made.
Leaking ducts
If you have a ducted air conditioning system, you need to pay attention to the ducts periodically, so enlist professional help.
Signs that the airconditioner’s ducts have a hole include reduced or erratic performance when running. Your air quality will also be impacted if dirt and debris are being sucked into the hole.
Actions: You can inspect accessible ductwork for holes or tears, which are often located where two ducts join. Turn off the air conditioner and disconnect its power supply until professional repairs can be made.
Electrical control failure
Professional assessment of failing electrical controls is vital. Faulty electrical controls may stop your air conditioner working. They can result from the stress of frequently turning it on or off, power surges, acid build-up or even misfortunate creatures that have decided to chew the wires.
Actions: Turn off the air conditioner and disconnect its power supply until professional repairs can be made.
Airflow and vent blockages
Issues with weak airflow could be as simple as the vent being blocked by furniture moved in front of it, or as complex as a faulty blower motor.
Actions: Keeping the vent area clear and cleaning filters will help, but airflow problems could be symptoms of issues with the blower motor, refrigerants or ducts. Turn off the air conditioner and disconnect its power supply until professional repairs can be made.
Unplugged air conditioner
Always, if the unit has stopped working, make sure it is still plugged in properly. If not, this is an easy fix.
Get professional help
Air conditioners require properly qualified technicians to install, service and repair them as they are complex devices. If the initial installation is shoddy or the chosen model is poor quality, you could start out with some of the problems described.
Contact Curran today for air conditioner installations or repairs or if you want to book a clean and condition service. Our repairs come with written guarantees.
Any customer can take advantage of our current $99 service that includes a clean and condition report of air conditioning.
Customers who are on our Service Partner Plan can book their FREE bi-yearly maintenance service that includes a clean and condition report of air conditioning.
We can fix all types and models of air conditioner, including:
Prevention strategies
A trained air conditioning professional will spot the common problems, as well as others you haven’t noticed yet, so booking a regular maintenance check can be important.
Maintenance inspections include:
- Inspecting the condenser unit
- Cleaning off any dust or debris inside or near the unit
- Cleaning the fan motor
- Oiling the bearings.
Remember to monitor your air conditioner between servicing. This helps to extend the life of the unit and reduce expensive problems that consume more energy. Conduct checks more frequently if your environment is extra dusty or polluted.
Get in touch with our team today to find out more.
