So your AC doesn’t feel like doing its only job in the world huh? Of course, it’s only in those hot, UK summer days that you notice your poor air conditioner struggling. When it’s cold, you barely even remember that you have a cooling unit.
When your AC stops functioning, it might not always be the fault of the equipment. A poorly maintained, dirty and neglected appliance will always perform poorly, fail to cool things down and cost you plenty in the long run.
If you’ve been asking yourself why your air conditioning unit is not cooling, we’ve compiled some of the most common AC problems that could be plaguing your particular unit as well as how to fix them up for optimum cooling.
1. Dirty Filter
As explained above, neglecting your air conditioning unit is the number one cause of malfunction. A dirty filter gets clogged over time and restricts airflow through the unit. As a result, this decreases the efficiency of the AC and reduces its ability to cool the air. So if you haven’t cleaned or switched out the filter recently, do it now and remember to keep replacing them at least once a month.
2. Low Refrigerant
Most air conditioning units use a chemical known as a refrigerant that cools the air within. If your unit is running low on refrigerant, then chances are that there’s a leak or it was undercharged during installation. If there’s a leak, then simply adding refrigerant won’t be enough. You’ll need to call a trained technician who will run tests, fix leaks, charge the system with the right amount and prevent any future instances.
3. Sensor Issues
Most room air conditioning units have a thermostat sensor that measures temperatures coming into the evaporative coil. Should this sensor be knocked out of place, then your unit will begin displaying erratic behaviour or not function as expected. Similarly, forced air cooling systems tend to build up dust along the registers making them less effective. Make sure you clean the registers thoroughly by vacuuming and ensure that the sensors are not touching the evaporative coil.
4. Warm Air Is Leaking In
If warm air is leaking into your air conditioning unit, then you’re only circulating the same warm stuff around your home. This can make things seem even hotter than they really are. Check all the seals around your AC to make sure that hot air is not seeping in and that cold air is not leaking out. If you notice any leaks, try to reseal the unit with some weather stripping or insulation.
5. Faulty Wiring
Believe it or not, something as simple as a little faulty wiring can leave your entire house feeling like an oven. Whether it was because of initial haphazard and uncertified AC installation or corrosion or wiring and terminals, electrical connections could be the cause of all your woes. Bad wiring not only prevents your cooling system from getting enough power, but it also poses a significant hazard to your electrical system.
6. AC Is Too Close To Windows
Common sense dictates that open windows equals to cool air coming in from outside. However, this doesn’t mean that you get twice the benefits when you use an AC with open windows. By keeping your cooling unit near an open window, all you’re doing is letting cool air escape and warm air from outside to invade. For maximum cooling benefits, try to keep your air conditioning units away from windows or doors.
7. AC Is Too Close To Other Electronics
If your air conditioning unit has a thermostat, then the worst thing you could do is place it near other heat emitting electronics. This includes lamps, TVs, sound systems, heaters, and other heat emitting appliances. That’s because your AC senses heat from these appliances and as a result, it runs longer than necessary and gets overworked. So try to avoid pacing your cooling unit near some of these appliances.
8. It’s Too Sunny Inside
Thanks to modern architecture, today’s range of homes and buildings are entirely open to the elements. This includes sun roofs and glass walls designed to let as much sun inside as possible. All this sun in your home means that your cooling unit has to work much harder to cool the same space. Similarly, hitting your AC with direct sunlight will confuse the thermostat and register wrong temperatures. It’s best to keep those roofs closed and shades down all day if you want to keep the heat down.
Parting Shot
These are just but a few of the common issues that you are likely to come across with a typical air conditioning unit. You can find more of them in the following video:
Following the tips above should not only help you enjoy better and faster cooling, but it will also save you money and extend the unit’s lifespan. Most importantly, however, always keep up with your cleaning and maintenance practices to avoid some of these issues.
