It\u2019s a terrible feeling. You know your air conditioning system isn\u2019t working right, but you don\u2019t know what\u2019s wrong, whether it can fixed without having to get a new system and how much it will cost you to be cool in your own home again.<\/p>\n
If your AC system isn\u2019t working, there\u2019s usually no mystery about it when a trained professional takes a look. Here are the four most common issues that keep air conditioning units from working well:<\/p>\n
1. Refrigerant leaks.<\/strong> Your AC unit requires a certain amount of a substance called refrigerant. If it doesn\u2019t have enough, it won\u2019t work right. Refrigerant can leak from a system in a variety of ways, and the reason for the leak needs to be found and fixed. Then, the system needs to be recharged.<\/p>\n 2. Poor maintenance.<\/strong> The little things mean so much when it comes to AC systems. While systems are made to last for years, they must have routine maintenance to clean away dirt and debris, make small repairs before they lead to bigger problems and keep an eye on refrigerant levels. Usually, your system needs service every year. If your system seems to be failing and you haven\u2019t had annual maintenance, that\u2019s probably the reason.<\/p>\n 3. Dirty filter.<\/strong> All home air conditioners have one or more filters to keep dust and dirt away from the sensitive components. If your AC system has suddenly stopped working, it could mean that a new filter is all that\u2019s needed. It\u2019s also possible that if you haven\u2019t changed your filter monthly or as needed, dirt has gotten into important components and caused a failure. You can try changing the filter and see if this gets your system working again.<\/p>\n 4. Broken thermostat.<\/strong> It may not be the AC unit but the thermostat that\u2019s malfunctioned. Repairing or replacing the thermostat may be all that\u2019s needed to get the system working again. Today, there are better thermostats than ever that can make your system run more efficiently and effectively than when it was new. And replacing the thermostat may cost less than a repair to the AC unit itself.<\/p>\n