Why Is My Air Conditioner Not Working Properly?

If you're like most people, then you rely on a home air conditioner to keep you cool and comfortable in the summer months.

Unfortunately, even the best air conditioners can run into problems and stop working properly. If your air conditioner doesn't work at all, blows hot air, or simply doesn't cool as well as it used to, you will probably need some professional help to get your AC unit back in proper working order.

You have all kinds of different reasons that air conditioners start to have problems. By knowing the common causes, you can often determine what is wrong with your air conditioner and what you should do about it.

Old or Dirty Filters

One of the most common reasons for an air conditioner that doesn't work correctly is a clogged, dirty, or old air filter.

When a filter has extensive dust, dirt, and/or pet hair, this makes the flow of clean, cool air difficult or even impossible to make its way into your home.

How often you should change your filter depends on many factors, such as the age of the air conditioner, the type of air conditioner, the type of filter, and the overall condition of your home. A home that is old and dusty or one that has many pets will often require more filter changes than homes without these factors.

If you think your filter could be the problem, try cleaning the filter off and putting it back in place. If that doesn't work, try a new filter. And if that doesn't work, you need to call a professional.

Improper Wiring and Setup

Has your air conditioner had problems since installation? If so, whoever did the installation could have done a poor job. This is most likely if you did the job yourself or hired a non-professional to do it.

Alternately, the wiring in your home connected to the air conditioning unit could be faulty in some way.

Bad installation and bad wiring are both potentially dangerous. Thus, if you suspect either or both of these things may affect your air conditioner, you'll want to disconnect it and have an expert come out and take a look.

Bear in mind that these types of problems usually show up soon after you have an air conditioner installed, but not always. Thus, don't discount this problem even if your air conditioner worked properly for a while before having issues.

A Bad Thermostat

Unbelievably, air conditioners sometimes don't work because a person set the thermostat incorrectly. A person might have the thermostat set to auto, for example, when a person should simply switch it on and off depending on your temperature preference.

Sometimes, people have the thermostat installed incorrectly so that it shows the wrong temperature and causes confusion. In other cases, the thermostat may simply have broken and may now keep you from getting the temperature you want.

In any case, have a professional look at your thermostat if you can't figure out why your air conditioner doesn't perform the way you need it to.

Dirty Coils

Finally, just as a dirty, clogged filter can sometimes cause problems for your air conditioner, the same is true when the internal parts of your unit get dirty. The coils, for example, frequently get dirty and cause problems.

When you deal with dirty internal parts, you probably need a professional cleaning. Besides, you should get your air conditioner set up on a regular, professional maintenance schedule to avoid these problems in the future.

If you think your air conditioner has one of these issues or if you're not sure what's wrong, don't worry. You can always call on the expert advice of Comfort Solutions .