When your air conditioner develops a problem, acting quickly to get it fixed is key. HVAC problems tend to be progressive. When one part starts to break down, it often affects the entire system. If left alone, the problem may cause the entire system to break down. So the sooner you catch a problem with your air conditioning system, the more damage you’ll be able to prevent. How can you tell when your air conditioning system has a problem, though? There are couple of common indicators that your air conditioner is having trouble. Read on to find out what they are.
Fluid Leaking
The two primary fluids that air conditioners deal with are condensate and refrigerant. Refrigerant is the fluid that is used to siphon heat from the indoor air and vent it outside. Condensate forms during normal operation, and is drained out of the system by a condensate pipe. A leak of either one of these fluids is a problem, one much more so than the other.
A condensate leak often results in parts of the air conditioner rusting, which can eventually weaken them and cause them to break. A refrigerant leak, however, will eventually deprive the air conditioner of the fluid that it absolutely needs to continue operating. If you notice any fluid dripping from your air conditioner, call a professional to make sure that there isn’t a leak somewhere in the system.
Short-Cycling
When an air conditioning system starts to rapidly cycle on and off every few minutes, it’s known as short-cycling. This kind of behavior can be provoked in a couple of different ways, either by a malfunctioning thermostat or a bad compressor. No matter the cause, though, short-cycling puts the air conditioner under far more strain than it is designed to handle. It can rapidly wear out parts and shorten the system’s lifespan as a whole. If your air conditioner starts doing this, shut it down and call a professional immediately.
If you think your air conditioner is in need of repair, call Wm. Henderson Plumbing & Heating Inc. We provide air conditioning services throughout Havertown, PA.