Air Conditioning Central Air Systems Troubleshooting Tips

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Air Conditioning Air Conditioners Central Air Troubleshooting

These easy to understand troubleshooting tips are for common issues that any homeowner can check before making an appointment for service or repairs and to help understand what may be wrong. Please do not perform these tips if you are not comfortable performing them. Electricity is dangerous and can cause serious injury or death, always assume electrical power is on unless you have checked it with an appropriate electrical meter. Ameri-Serv, Inc. assumes no liability for the use of the information provided on this website. Before beginning please read the following article. Understanding Electrical Circuits and Standard Household Voltages


What should I Look for Before I call for services on my air conditioning system?

How do I know if my air conditioning system fan or blower is working properly?

My fan in my home is working properly, what should I look for outside on my air conditioner?

My air conditioner condenser fan is running, how do I know if my compressor is running?


What should I Look for Before I call for services on my air conditioning system?

Answer: The number one issue we find on air conditioning systems is clogged filters. First look to see if your air filter is clean and not clogged up, if it is clogged change the air filter and try your system again but keep in mind with the air conditioning system running with a clogged air filter you could have also iced up your indoor coil due to low air flow.

You will need to check your air flow after you change the filter and if the air flow still is not normal wait at least half a day and then try to run the system again before you call for service. If the problem persists or reoccurs you should call in a professional you trust.


How do I know if my air conditioning system fan or blower is working properly?

Answer: Look to see if your indoor fan is running and that you have adequate air blowing into the rooms of your home when the system is running the air conditioning. Unfortunately not all air conditioning systems are installed the same way and many were not installed to proper industry standards for air flows, you will have to use your best judgment on what the system was doing prior to experiencing problems in determining the air flow.

If you have low or no air flow and have completed the tasks in the first question above and you can hear the fan running at the furnace or air handler but you still have no air flow this indicates that your ducts may possibly have come loose or are damaged  At this point you should shut down your air conditioning system to help prevent any further damage to your air conditioner condenser unit and have your system checked by a professional you trust.

My fan in my home is working properly, what should I look for outside on my air conditioner?

Answer: First check to be sure your air conditioning condenser or air conditioner fan , which is the fan outside your home, is running, this condenser fan acts like car radiator fan to cool the system down and remove the heat from your home. If the air conditioning system compressor is running inside this condenser unit and this fan is not running immediately turn off your air conditioning system and call for service by a qualified technician.






My air conditioner condenser fan is running, how do I know if my compressor is running?

Answer: Check to see if the air conditioning compressor is running, this is located inside the condenser or air conditioner under the condenser fan, you can either simple hear it running as it sounds much like an air compressor would sound or you can touch the two copper lines leaving the condenser unit and feel them for temperature. If the big copper pipe (usually covered by insulation) is nice and cold and the little one is warm or hot this means your compressor is more than likely running.

However, If the larger of the two copper pipes on your air conditioner has ice on it or is dripping a lot of water then this indicates you may have a refrigerant leak, you should shut down your system if you see this and have the system checked by a qualified technician.


Typical Air Conditioning System or Air Conditioner Condenser Unit Air Conditioning Air Conditioner Condenser Unit