Air Conditioner Not Up to Speed? Some Common Causes

The warm weather has arrived in Northeast Ohio and you switched on the air conditioning, but something is just not right. The temperature isn’t cool enough, there is a bit of humidity in the air, and your rooms seem dustier than normal. If you skipped annual maintenance this spring, your air conditioner likely isn’t up to speed and it’s important to fix these common problems before they become expensive issues. 

• A clogged air filter will cause several problems for you air conditioner. Excess dirt will enter your air handler, coat the coils with a layer of dirt, slow the cooling process and increase your energy costs. Dirt may also travel through the ducts, spreading dust in your home. A homeowner should regularly inspect the air filter and change it when it looks dirty. During the heavy-use heating and cooling seasons, you may need to change it every month.

• A blocked condensate drain will create humidity problems in your home by not releasing moisture to the outdoors. If there is excess water in the condensate pan, your drain is blocked. A handy homeowner can run a snake through the line to open minor blockages. For a serious blockage, contact a professional to flush the line with water or blow it out with a compressor.

• An obstructed outdoor condenser will continually run to remove heat from the refrigerant,  therefore increasing your energy costs. Remove leaves, vines, grass clippings and overgrown shrubs blocking airflow to the condenser. Clean the condenser with a water hose to remove dirt from the fins and coils.

• A low refrigerant level is one of the main reasons an air conditioner loses its cooling power. Bad solder joints, loose fittings or worn-out seals can cause leaks. Overcharging refrigerant also can cause problems. A professional has a meter that locates leaks and the proper tools to charge the system with the correct amount of refrigerant according the manufacturer’s guidelines.

If you have questions about common air conditioner problems, contact our friendly staff at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning for your answers. We have provided quality and affordable assistance to the Lorain and the surrounding area for over 50 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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