4 Common AC Problems
Posted: May 10, 2018 by Andy

Ohio homeowners know that there are few things worse than a broken air conditioner during the dog days of summer. Unfortunately, air conditioners do sometimes break down, and when they do, it's time to call us to help. Whether your AC runs but won't cool the air, won't turn on at all, keeps turning off and on for no reason, or runs but only cools parts of your home, our HVAC experts are ready to help resolve your problems.

My AC runs, but doesn't cool

Several problems could lead to your air conditioner not cooling your home, or cooling it ineffectively. Check your thermostat to ensure that it's set to the right temperature. Sometimes programmable thermostats can be changed unintentionally, causing your home to become uncomfortable. If that isn't the problem, make sure that you've changed your filters recently. If they're old and clogged, they could be affecting your air conditioner's efficiency and performance.

Next, if pieces of furniture are blocking your system's return ducts, they could be preventing your central air system from being able to cool your home. If none of these issues are causing your problem, it's possible that your air conditioner isn't cooling well due to refrigerant or ductwork leaks. If you suspect one of these problems is to blame, call our trained professionals to investigate and make quality repairs.

My AC won't run

If your AC won't come on at all, your first step is always to check its circuit breaker. Even if the breaker looks OK, it's always best to reset the breaker to be sure; sometimes when a breaker has tripped it isn't obvious to the human eye.

If the breaker is fine, try checking your thermostat's batteries. Often overlooked and rarely replaced, they may have died and could be preventing your AC from starting. If the batteries are fine, you may have a much more serious problem on your hands. Contact our qualified HVAC experts for diagnostics and repair.

My AC turns on and off quickly

If your AC is turning off and on very quickly regardless of the temperature in your home, it is short cycling. Also known as rapid cycling, this can be damaging to your AC unit, so it's an urgent concern.

A number of things can cause short cycling. The culprit could be a dirty filter, so make sure to change yours regularly. The problem could be more serious, such as low refrigerant, dirty or frozen coils, or a bad electrical connection. If your unit is short cycling and has its filter is clean, call us immediately to prevent additional damage to your system.

My AC only cools some rooms

Your AC should be cooling all areas in your home more or less equally. If some rooms stay warmer than the rest, you may have an issue with your ductwork. If your ductwork is leaking, torn, or is partially disconnected, it could be blowing cold air into your attic or basement instead of into your living space. Leaky ductwork can not only make parts of your home too warm, but it can also make your air conditioner work hard to try to cool your home.

If your thermostat recognizes that your home is not as cool as it should be, it'll send a message to your HVAC system to run until your house cools down. When your system is running but isn't blowing in some rooms, then it will take much longer to cool your home, and that will put stress on your air conditioner as well as cost you more money on your electric bill for extra energy usage. Other issues that could lead to uneven cooling include blocked vents and ductwork.

If you have unresolved problems with cooling in your Northeast Ohio home, contact the professionals at Hey Neighbor LLC | Ron the Furnace Man today!