On a hot 95+ degree day, no one wants to deal with melted ice cream. That’s why we have air conditioning! Hot weather here in Austin means trips to Barton Springs, bike rides, and cookouts on the patio with tall iced beverages. It’s all fun in the sun until your air conditioning goes out. Below we’ll take a look at some of the most common AC problems and offer some tips for basic air conditioner troubleshooting. Air conditioning systems cool air using an evaporator coil within your inside AC unit. Inside the coil is a refrigerant such as Freon that cools down the coil. The AC unit draws in warm air and blows it over the coil, where the refrigerant absorbs the heat and the newly chilled air is sent back into your home. The hot refrigerant is cycled outside your home to the compressor unit where it transfers the heat outside, and then gets condensed and returned back into the inside unit. If your air conditioning unit stops blowing cold air, it’s a great idea to try some basic troubleshooting before calling for a repair.

It could be that the cause of the problem is simple enough for you to fix on your own.If there’s little to no air getting to the unit, the condensation on the evaporator coils will freeze up. The first thing to do is to check your air filters. If they’re dirty, you’ve likely found the culprit, as this can cause the unit to freeze up. Next, check the evaporator coil within your indoor unit. Turn off your AC at the thermostat and then remove the front panel of the unit. If there’s frost on the coils inside, that’s what’s causing your unit to malfunction. Usually, this problem can be easily resolved by turning off the unit long enough for the coils to defrost, usually about 90 minutes. Run the fan to help speed the process and keep air moving, but the “cool” setting should not be engaged on your thermostat during this time.Unit leaking Freon can freeze up due to lower pressure within the system. To resolve this particular issue, you will need to get a certified HVAC company to add more Freon and fix the leak.

Depending on the location and nature of the leak, however, it could be a sign that the unit needs to be replaced. Monitor your AC performance after any such maintenance, and if it happens again, it might mean it’s time for a new unit. Clean out the condensate drain. When AC units run, they not only lower the inside air temperature but also remove humidity. This moisture then drains through a small pipe to the outside. Over time, algae or insects seeking moisture can clog this drain, and that in turn causes your unit to shut down. You can pour a mixture of equal parts water and household bleach into the drain pan to clean out the line. Check the compressor outside. When the A/C unit kicks on, the outdoor compressor should start to run, and you should hear the motor and be able to see the fan turning inside. If it isn’t running, check your unit for a reset or overload switch (not all have them). You can also try spinning the fan blades clockwise with a screwdriver.

If it’s not working, you may have a faulty capacitor that will need to be replaced. It’s also possible that the unit has shorted out due to an animal climbing inside the unit. A professional HVAC technician will need to inspect the unit if it’s not turning on.insulate ac window unit If you’ve run through our list of AC troubleshooting tips and can’t resolve your problem, it’s time to call out professionals to inspect your AC unit. ac air compressor for carAt ABC Home and Commercial Services Austin, we can send out experienced HVAC staff to provide all necessary servicing and repairs. wall mounted room air conditioning unitsAlso, it’s a great idea to schedule AC tune-ups with our technicians before you run into any trouble during the busy summer season.

It’s a bizarre, yet common sight. There you are in the middle of summer. The sun is beating down. Everyone is wearing shorts. And your outside air conditioner unit or heat pump is caked in solid ice. How is it possible for an air conditioner to look like an igloo, even in the warmest summer months? Needless to say, it is abnormal for ice to form on an air conditioner, and it is certainly cause for concern. Several common problems can cause air conditioner freeze-ups: The buildup of ice and frost is a sure sign that your air conditioner is not operating properly. If you notice a decline in your system’s cooling capacity, ice build-up should be the first thing you suspect. Air conditioner freeze-ups should be addressed immediately; continued ice accmulation can cause permanent damage to your a/c unit. The first thing you should do once you notice your air conditioner is frozen is to turn it off and let it defrost completely. Once it has defrosted, check the airflow. Clean or replace dirty filters or remove any visible dirt or obstructions;

in some cases, this could be all that is needed. More serious airflow and refrigeration problems require professional intervention. Schedule a Service Call with Horizon Services; your Horizon service technician has all the tools necessary to troubleshoot serious air flow problems and repair refrigerant leaks. If your icing problem is due to drops in the outdoor air temperature, be sure to turn your air conditioner off when the mercury takes a drop. You should also consider installing a special ambient temperature control that will allow the unit to run properly in cooler temperatures. While all HVAC equipment should be checked by a professional once a year, and an HVAC professional should always be called in to deal with major issues or repairs, you can extend the life of your HVAC system by performing an annual precison tune-up. And, if you are ready to install or replace your air conditioner or heater our friendly and experienced team of Comfort Specialists know air conditioning and heating systems inside and out.