If your air conditioning system is getting old, it will eventually start having problems. Instead of waiting for it to completely break down, below are two things that may happen so you know when it is time to call an HVAC technician to repair your system.
Problems with Fan
An older HVAC unit may have problems with the fan. If you have no air blowing out of the vents in your home when you run the air conditioning system, go outside and look at the unit. You will see a grill and under the grill is the fan, generally on the side of the unit. Make sure your HVAC unit is on and see if the fan is turning, if it is not or it is turning very slowly, then the fan is having problems.
This could be caused by something simple and inexpensive, such as a belt that is loose or broken. The air filter may be dirty and blocking the air from flowing through it. Contactor problems are common. This is a switch inside the unit that electricity flows in and out of to give the compressor and the fan motor power. If the contactor has problems then the fan will not turn.
The capacitor may have problems. This device is important as it provides the fan with power so it can turn. The most serious problem is the fan motor may be burned out and the entire fan will need to be replaced.
Problems with Condensing Unit
When the coolant, also called the refrigerant, compresses, it goes through the condenser. There are coils on the condenser that cools the refrigerant before it flows through the duct work and into your home. The condenser also has a fan to help it cool the refrigerant. If your home is not as cool as it should be, the condensing unit may be the culprit. The coils on the unit may be bent, and if so, this restricts air that passes through the coils.
The coils on the condenser unit may be dirty. When the coils have dust and dirt on them, it can block the air from being cooled, so you will only have warm air running out through your vents. There may also be a refrigerant leak. In some cases, a condensing unit will have problems with the electrical wiring.
If you notice any of these things, you should not attempt to repair them yourself but call a professional to do this for you. Because your unit is old, they may suggest that you replace it.
Share