Common Residential AC Problems

We depend on air conditioning units to keep our homes cool and comfortable during hot temperatures. A malfunction in the unit or an issue can affect its performance and either reduce its ability to cool your home or stop it entirely. This will not only lead to uncomfortable temperatures inside your home but could even pose health risks in children, the elderly and pets. A/C units are large, complex pieces of machinery that need to be well maintained in order to avoid complications.

Common Bloomington A/C Issues

Even the smallest problem with your AC unit could cause your system to break down if overlooked. If your air conditioning unit experiences a problem, contact Bloomington Heating & Air for professional AC repair service.

Inadequate Air Cooling

There are multiple reasons as to why an air conditioning unit may not cool your home properly. It could be an issue with the AC blower, found inside the air handler, which pushes the cooled air into the ductwork. Or, the ductwork itself could be leaking or damaged, allowing cool air to escape. If it is a new issue with the unit that you had not experienced before it may also be due to a dirty evaporator. The evaporator would need to be carefully cleaned in order to restore the desired temperature. A problem that was apparent from the moment the unit was installed could mean that the unit is improperly sized for your home. At Bloomington Heating & Air, our technicians can help you choose the right unit for your home, install it, and perform any necessary repairs.

Low Refrigerant

Refrigerant is a chemical used in air conditioning units to cool the air within the system. Low levels of refrigerant can affect your system’s performance and reduce its cooling capabilities. Reduced levels of refrigerant can be caused by a leak or a problem in the refrigerant system. More often than not, the problem is due to a leak. Refrigerant leaks should be addressed immediately by a professional technician. If your AC unit has a refrigerant leak, contact our HVAC repair company for prompt service.

Lingering Odors & Burning Smells

Any burning smell usually means something is amiss, especially if it’s coming from an air conditioner. This smell is often found when something inside the unit begins to overheat. Common reasons for the smell include:

  • Dirty air filter;
  • Worn fan belt;
  • Overheating fan motor; and
  • Electrical failure.

Because fires do start in air conditioners, it’s important to immediately turn off the unit and call the professionals at Bloomington Heating & Air for 24/7 emergency AC repair. Our technicians will inspect the unit and repair the source for the burning smell before a larger problem develops.

Drainage Problems

Sometimes the condensate drain becomes clogged or plugged when algae, mildew, and mold build up in the U-shaped trap. Periodically checking and cleaning the trap generally removes any drainage problem in an air conditioner.

Outside Fan Is Not Responding

The outside fan plays a crucial role in an air conditioning system as it is responsible for conveying heat from your home to the outside air. If the fan is not working, proper heat transfer cannot occur and can lead to damages in your system such as overheating the compressor. Frozen coils are often a symptom of a larger issue inside the air conditioner, such as a broken fan. The refrigerant flowing into the coils is very cold. To keep the coils from freezing up, they need air movement over the outside. If the fan is broken, air movement ceases and the coil freezes. If your outside fan is not working properly, contact Bloomington Heating & Air before your system experiences further damage.

Poor Maintenance

Overlooking maintenance to your air conditioning unit can cause a multitude of issues. In order for your system to run for as long as possible and minimize the chance of breakdowns, regular HVAC maintenance must be performed. Through maintenance services, our technicians can catch any issue in the system before it has time to severely impact the entire mechanism of the unit. This will save you money in energy bills, prevent extensive and expensive repairs, and may even save your unit from needing replacement. If your system remains inactive for a long period of time — such as during winter — maintenance should be performed before the system is used again. Starting a system that hasn’t been used for an extended period of time without ensuring that it’s in proper working order can lead to overexertion and system breakdowns.