Hot summers in North Port are long and oppressive. If your AC is not working correctly, you might even want to spend the night outside your home to escape the heat. To avoid waking up tired and drenched in sweat, you should work on your AC problems before they catch up with you.

Even before summer kicks in, it’s important to know common AC problems North Port homeowners are likely to experience and have them checked. This way, you’ll know when to call a professional repair or do it yourself. Let’s have a look at some of these AC problems and their fixes.

1. Air Conditioner Not Cooling

One of the common AC issues you’ll experience is the air conditioner running but not cooling. There may be several causes of this problem. One can be dirt build up in the filter, blocked condenser drain, or low refrigerant levels.

You can check for any of these problems and solve one after the other to check if the problem is solved. Also, check if there is ice buildup around the coils. Adding more coolant into the system can also help solve this problem.

Sometimes not getting enough air conditioning may not be a problem with the AC. Sometimes it may be too hot outside that the condition isn’t capable of providing enough cooling. Some air conditioners are only designed to cool up to 20 degrees lower.

2. Leaking Refrigerant AC Problems

Leaking refrigerant is a common AC problem that residents in North Port experience. When experiencing this problem, simply adding some refrigerant may not be enough to solve the problem. If you’re to add refrigerant, it must be exact to meet the manufacturer’s specifications.

Getting an undercharged AC installation is a rare case. So, mostly low refrigerant means there’s a leak, and you need to fix it as soon as possible. You should consider calling a professional to help you figure out why AC is leaking and what you can do.

3. Compressor Problems

A compressor is an essential component of your air conditioner, but it also fails at times. This is what applies energy to the refrigerant and propels it to circulate heat through the system. A failed compressor means that the AC unit won’t cool the house.

Without enough refrigerants, the compressor runs hot then seizes. Too much refrigerant in the AC will return to the compressor, making it fail.

4. Frozen Evaporator Coil

One of the air conditioner problems that can make the unit suddenly stop working is the frozen evaporator coil. This happens when the air conditioner does not get enough air needed for the conditioning system. If your evaporator coil is frozen, your AC will freeze up and stop working.

When this is not solved on time, the ice will accumulate on the coil. The coil will get encased with ice and prevent the refrigerant from absorbing latent heat. All these problems will prevent your AC from working as needed.

To solve this problem, let the evaporator thaw by not using the unit for a while. Disconnect power and give it around 24 hours to defrost but if you can’t wait, use a hairdryer to speed up the process. After that, you’ll have your AC running as required.

5. Fan Failure AC Problems

The AC unit located outside is tasked with supplying heat from indoors to the outdoors through the fan. Sometimes the fan outside will not perform well, interfering with proper heat transfer. This also causes the compressor to overheat or causes a safety load trip.

The worst-case scenario is the fan failure may also cause internal compressor damage. This problem may be so bad that you may need to replace your air conditioner.

One of the issues that cause the fan to stop is loose components or poor system wiring. You can remove the out case to inspect the problem visually. You should also understand that solving this problem may not be easy, so calling a professional might be the best solution.

6. Your AC Is Blowing Hot Air

When it’s summer, all you want is some cold air blowing on your skin. But that won’t happen when your AC chooses to blow hot air instead. If this happens, don’t panic because there are very low chances that your AC is faulty.

When this happens, the first culprit will be the thermostat. Sometimes you might have left it on ‘heat’ or ‘fan’ mode. You need to check and switch it to ‘cool’ or ‘auto.’ This mostly happens when you accidentally knocked it, causing a slip.

If your thermostat is in the correct setting, but you still feel hot air blowing through your skin, it might be time to call a professional. This might only need a simple repair if you do it on time. But delaying further can cause much serious damage.

7. Strange Noises AC Problem

When your conditioner doesn’t run quietly, it will be such a nuisance, especially at night when everyone needs to sleep. When your AC is producing some strange sounds, it’s a clear indication that there’s a problem. Often, such noises indicate a belt problem and often come out as squealing sounds.

This happens because the belt is improperly aligned or is too old hence needs a replacement. If you hear grinding noises, the motor’s bearing might be the cause. Rattling noises means the cover panels need some tightening.

Avoid AC Problems

Before the hot seasons kick in at North Port, you should consider inspecting your AC to avoid any inconveniences. Regular AC repairs and maintenance is the right thing to ensure your AC serves you longer and better. The good thing is that most repairs for simple AC problems only involve a do it yourself project.

But for more complex problems, you don’t need to struggle and risk damaging your AC further. Cliff Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. will help you bring back your AC to normal working in no time. Get in touch with us and let one of our experts diagnose the issue.