Summer is almost here, and the days are starting to heat up. You’re going to be using your air conditioner more and more often in order to keep cool over the next few months, and that’s going to increase the wear and tear on the system. Summer is the most stressful time of year for air conditioners, and that means that most air conditioner problems are going to crop up around this time. Let’s take a look at some common problems that may afflict your air conditioner, and when to call for repairs.
Frozen Coil
Your air conditioner cools your home by evaporating refrigerant in an evaporator coil, which siphons heat from the air in your ducts. As the air temperature drops below the dew point, condensation forms on the coil and drains out of the system through a dedicated line. If the flow of warm air is ever interrupted, though, the temperature will drop below freezing and the condensate will become ice. An iced-over coil is useless for absorbing heat, and can cause a whole slew of other problems down the road. Call for repairs if you see ice forming on the system.
Air Handler Issues
The air handler is the part of the air conditioner responsible for circulating air throughout the home while the system is operating. Moving that much air generates a lot of friction, and so the air handler is equipped with a series of lubricated bearings to compensate. These bearings wear down over time, increasing the friction on the motor and creating a loud grinding sound. If the bearings are not replaced, the motor will eventually overheat and burn out. If you hear a grinding sound coming from your air conditioner, call for repairs immediately.