8 Top Causes of Air Conditioner Failure

An HVAC system (especially an electric one like an air conditioner) can account for a huge portion of energy expenditure during the hotter months of the year. Add in the cost of AC repair and that figure will climb even higher.

The best way to offset these costs is with routine service, especially if you suspect something is amiss with your AC system. While we recommend enlisting a service call from a qualified HVAC technician at least once per year (in the fall and spring) being wary of the warning signs can go a long way toward preventing issues.

These are the most common causes of air conditioner failure that can necessitate AC repair if you don’t keep prepared with routine maintenance.

1.Refrigerant leaks
Your AC system contains a substance known as a refrigerant that is used to absorb energy and remove it to the exterior of your home. Low refrigerant levels decrease the efficiency of the system, refrigerant leaks will cripple it and can result in extensive damage.

Moreover, refrigerant is harmful to the environment, so suspected leaks should be investigated right away. The sooner caught, the better, and the lower the chance of incurring further damage to the system.

2.Frozen coils
If there is an obstruction somewhere in your AC system that prevents efficient air flow, your evaporator coils may freeze. If the coil freezes, the system will not be able to exchange heat effectively and the system will not be able to cool your home.

If you notice frost on the coils, turn off the system at once to prevent damage and call for AC repair immediately. Do not attempt to run the system with frozen coils.

Moreover, mundane matters – such as failing to regularly inspect and replace air filters – can result in frozen coils. Check your air filter every month at a minimum, and when it is dirty, replace it.

3.Dirty condenser coils
Even if your coils don’t freeze, they can become dirty which is also not good for the system. Dirt can accumulate around the condenser coils around the exterior unit, in the form of sand, dust, dirt, leaves, and other natural debris.

This also hinders heat exchange and can significantly reduce the efficiency of the system, making it work harder. A dirty condenser coil that causes the system to overwork will eventually result in overheating that can damage the system and can cause it to shut down.

4.Faulty compressor/compressor failure
The compressor of the system is sort of like the “engine” of the entire AC system. It is responsible for compressing the refrigerant, enabling it to more efficiently absorb heat from the interior of your home before venting it to the outside.

Like an engine, a compressor can become overworked and wear out. Older compressors are at greater risk of failure, but faults in the system like those mentioned above can cause a compressor to burn out much earlier.

When the compressor fails, the system will not cool the house, even if the fan is running – and consequently, a failed compressor is cause for immediate AC repair.

5.Fan motor failure
The condenser fan motor drives the fan that helps efficiently cool the outdoor coils before returning refrigerant to the interior of the home. The fan blades and motor are both subjected to extreme temperatures and adverse conditions throughout the year.

They are built to withstand these abuses, but sometimes enough is enough. Damaged fan blades that overwork the motor can cause it to burn out. Age is another factor that can cause a fan motor to fail. When this happens, the system will become inefficient at venting heat, taxing the rest of the components of the air conditioning system.

6.Sensor failure
Air conditioner systems have thermostats with sensors that measure the temperature of air coming to the evaporator coil. If the sensor gets knocked out of position or damaged, it will be unable to control the system, causing it to run continuously, fail to start, or simply to behave erratically.

The sensor could also fail without being knocked out of position, but the effects will be the same. If your AC unit is behaving oddly, it might not be that any of the components of the system themselves are damaged, but rather a faulty sensor that must be diagnosed and recalibrated or replaced.

7.A blown fuse
An air conditioner system can also be disabled by something as unexpected as a blown fuse or a fault with the circuit breaker. If this is the case, restoring a new fuse can often restore the life of the system. However, if the underlying causes that caused a spike in electricity to blow the fuse in the first place are not addressed, the system may blow the fuse again. Instead of simply replacing the fuse yourself, contact an AC repair specialist to attempt to diagnose the problem.

8.Failing to schedule regular maintenance
Believe it or not, one of the top causes of air conditioning repairs is failing to schedule routine maintenance. While not performing regular maintenance in and of itself does not necessarily cause system failures, it does prevent HVAC repair specialists from catching issues that could have been rectified before they failed.

The bottom line is this: if you want to safeguard the efficiency of your air conditioning system and catch issues before they result in component failures, you need to keep to a routine maintenance schedule for the system.

Need AC Repair? You Need Jones Heat and Air!
Whether you’re looking to start scheduling routine air conditioning maintenance appointments or you’re already at the point that you need AC repair services, Jones Heat & Air can help. Be on the lookout for the warning signs mentioned in this article and be ready to respond appropriately.

We proudly provide AC repair services in Turlock, California, as well as in and around Tracy, Manteca, Ripon and Modesto. We even offer emergency repair services. If you have a problem, call us at 209-632-5675 and we’ll send out a technician to help, at any time of day, at any time of year.