What You Need To Know About Air Conditioning Repairs

Here at Southern Comfort Mechanical, we understand how important it is to have functioning air conditioning. Proper cooling or heating is as essential to daily life as your car, internet, or electricity so it is extremely disruptive when your HVAC system isn’t doing its job. All of us have experienced these issues ourselves, including the owner of the company. His wife was in the hospital with their newborn one July when their A/C decided to stop working, preventing them from bringing their little bundle of joy home until it was fixed. Even in the office, we experience issues with our system, the biggest one being the power outage in February where we were left without heat for 4 days. We have personally experienced how challenging it can be to continue functioning when you are uncomfortable in your own home, so we are here to help get you back up and running again. Looking for AC repair services in Southlake? or AC installation in Frisco? Call our experts today or contact us via our website.

We wanted to make this document to help you understand:

1. The Most Common A/C Issues
2. Components of Your Unit
3. Steps for Troubleshooting
4. When to Call for Help
5. Why Should I Have Maintenance Done?
6. FAQ

The Most Common A/C Issues

When your system is in cooling mode, the most common issues we see concern the drain line, dirty filters, electrical issues, or refrigerant issues. Your drain line could be backed up, causing the system to shut off. A dirty filter can lead to larger issues if it is blocking airflow and forcing your system to work harder than it needs to. Faulty motors, capacitors, circuit boards, etc., can also prevent your unit from functioning properly. Once it gets a little cooler out and your system is in heating mode, we often encounter issues with dirty safety sensors, along with the issues listed above. If your system has a heat pump, you may experience a combination of all the above, along with bad defrost circuit boards or a failed valved in the refrigerant lines. To view our air conditioning services in Carrollton, visit this page.

The Components of an Air Conditioner

There are three main components to your system: the condenser, the evaporator coil, and the furnace. The condenser is located outside and is connected to the inside portion through wiring and refrigerant lines. Your furnace and evaporator coil are both located inside your home, most likely in the attic. All of these are controlled by your thermostat(s), which regulates the temperature of the air inside your home. If you have an older thermostat, you may hear a “click” when it is turning your unit on and off. If you have a newer, more complex thermostat, it will be running algorithms to balance comfort and efficiency. You may also be able to monitor the relative humidity and other options within your system to ensure your home is the perfect environment for your whole family. Air filters, ductwork, and other components control how all these elements function together as a system. Each component plays an important role in ensuring that your air conditioner runs efficiently so it’s important to understand them to keep your system running smoothly year after year. Need help with your heater in Frisco, Texas? Call our pros today!

Here’s a quick breakdown of how those 3 main components work:

• Condenser (or Heat Pump)- when in cooling mode, the condenser pulls the heat from inside via the refrigerant and discharges it into the air outside. The refrigerant is pumped around the system by the compressor located at the base of the unit. The coil or metal grid behind the covers is like a car radiator and cools the hot refrigerant pumped out of the home. The fan blade and motor located at the top of the unit pull air through the coil at the sides and push it out the top of the unit. Heat pumps will deliver heat by reversing the cycle and pulling heat from the air outside and pushing it to the indoor units.
• Furnace (or Air Handler)- warms up air using heat generated by gas. When the temperature drops below the set point your unit will call for heating and a signal is sent to the thermostat, pushing it through a start-up cycle with safety checks to make sure the drops are closed, before checking the ventilation, turning on the gas, and firing the burners. During this stage, you will hear a lot of clicking and potential lights flashing like a Christmas tree as it works through the steps before starting to heat. The burners heat the heat exchanger and vent spent gases out through your roof via a flue pipe. The furnace also has a blower motor which runs when in heating mode to blow air pulled from inside your home and blows or pushes this across the heat exchanger to pick up heat and bring warm air into your home via the ductwork. If you have a heat pump outside, it will likely be paired with an air handler inside. This process takes the heated freon from outside and passes it through the air handler, which houses an evaporator coil and a blower motor, to push the air through the unit to heat or cool the air, depending on the mode of operation it’s in.
• Evaporator Coil- this component is attached to the furnace, which blows air from your home through the coil. The evaporator coil is linked to the condenser through the refrigerant lines. The cold refrigerant is pumped into the evaporator coil as air from your home is blown across the evaporator coil surface, picture a car radiator grill, as the warm air pulled from inside your home moves across the surface of the coil, the heat from the air is transferred to the refrigerant. The heat absorbed from the passing air causes the refrigerant to heat up to the point that it evaporates (hence the name), akin to boiling water changing from liquid to a gas. As the surface of the evaporator coil is lower than the air, moisture is pulled from the air before it is returned to your home, lowering the humidity while you run the system in cooling mode. The moisture/ condensate from the coil drips into a drain pan inside the evaporator coil casing and flows into the PVC condensate line and typically down into a bathroom sink closest to the unit. The drain pan below the unit also called the emergency drain pan, is there to catch water if there is a clog or issue with the main drain. The drain pan is tied to an emergency or secondary drain line that directs the water outside. If water is flowing, you will see it dripping from a pipe located at the front or back of your home.

Steps for Troubleshooting

No matter what season it is, AC problems can be a real pain. Here are some of the most common home AC problems and how to troubleshoot them:

1. Air Filter – Where is your filter located? This will typically be on the side of the furnace in the attic. There should be a door on either side, open this and slide out the filter. If it is white or off-white, it is clean. If your furnace is in a closet and sitting vertically, there will be a door/flap at the bottom of the unit where the filter is housed. Alternatively, your filter could be wall or ceiling mounted, held in place by a large grill. You may need a ladder to check this one, be sure to make note of when it was changed to ensure it is being replaced often enough. If your filter is orange, brown, or worse, then it is time to change it. If the filter change does not resolve the issue, double-check to see if there is a second filter located in your system. Sometimes, there is a ceiling filter and a filter at the unit. This happened in my home, there was a ceiling filter and one at the unit, I changed the one on the unit and didn’t realize there was a second one that needed to be changed and it clogged up over time. One of the most important things you can do to keep your air conditioning system in good shape is to change out the air filter regularly. Dirty filters pose several problems for heating and cooling systems such as reduced efficiency and damage caused by dirt buildup. A dirty air filter restricts airflow throughout the system, which affects its performance and puts stress on components that may have been undamaged otherwise. This increases the likelihood of having to pay for repairs. The frequency at which you need to replace your filter depends largely on how often you use your AC unit, and how much dust accumulates in your home or office over time. A 1-inch filter change is recommended every 3 months but may need to be changed every month if they are accumulating dirt from pets. A 4-inch filter change is recommended every 6 months, typically when there is routine maintenance. Some high-end 4 or 5-inch filters may only need to be changed annually. A dirty air filter can increase energy costs by up to 15% so it’s important to keep your system running efficiently. If you don’t replace or clean out your filter regularly, you won’t be getting the most out of your investment.
2. Drain Line – If you see water dripping outside your home when the system is running it’s an indication of a blockage or backup. Go to your furnace and check the drain pan below the unit to see if there is water in it or if it’s wet. If the drain pan has water or signs of water, then there is an issue with the main drain. Go to the sink that the main AC drain is connected to, run the water if the sink back up and is not draining or draining very slowly you found the issue. The sink drain needs to be cleared you can try and unclog with a plunger or drain products from the DIY store. If this does not resolve the issue, call a plumbing professional to address the drain from the sink. Drain line issues can also show up as blank thermostats, there are safety switches located in the main drain on most installs (all the Southern Comfort Mechanical installs come with this as standard). When the water backs up it will shut off the unit to prevent damage from water overflowing. In all cases check the sink, if the sink is not backing up and draining properly but the thermostat is blank or water is in the drain pan and flowing outside, call an HVAC service tech to come and clear out the drain line. Monitor your unit to ensure the water is draining to the outside and not leaking into your ceiling.
3. Circuit Breaker Box – typically located in your garage or utility room. Make sure the switch for your air conditioner was tripped off. If the circuit is off, there are two reasons: it was turned off by someone who may have forgotten to turn it back on or it tripped off due to an overcurrent detection, high amps detected and shut off to protect the circuit. If the unit works again when it’s switched on, was there a power outage or power spike which can explain the issue, or is there a problem developing with the unit or the circuit? Monitor the breaker box, if it trips in under 15 minutes, sometimes a short as a few seconds, there is an electrical short, and we recommend calling an HVAC service technician to determine what is causing the circuit to trip. On the other hand, the circuit is tripping but longer delays, similar there is a problem with your system but more likely a different failure mode that a direct short with the short order tripping. In the third scenario, the unit will trip but may take hours or days which indicates there is a problem but only happening under certain conditions. Call and schedule a service technician This is often difficult to track down can be frustrating if the unit is reset and the technician is unable to see what is going on. If possible, leave the unit in the off state and do not reset it, try to remember the time day, temperatures, anything that can help track down the conditions that are causing the unit to trip the circuit i.e. when the thermostat is turned down 3 degrees, after it has run for some time whatever insights. Share what you can when booking the call to ensure the technician is prepared as possible.
4. Thermostat – The blank thermostat we have touched on resulting from a drain line issue. Other common scenarios. Check your thermostat and make sure it is set to “cool” or “cooling” if it’s set to fan only or circulate it will not cool or heat If the drains are clear and the screen is off check to see if it’s battery-powered, there will be a door or will need to be pulled off the wall. If you cannot see a door, check your model online. If it has batteries some require it to be pulled from the wall. Wrap your hands around both sides of the thermostat and pull straight toward you. Change the batteries and snap the thermostat back into place. Hope it will come back to life. If the batteries are corroded and cover in what I call fur it more than likely is toast and will need to be replaced. This can be done at a DIY store, or you can call an HVAC technician to come out and replace it. Notify in the call when booking to ensure there are thermostats on the truck and you can consider options. Another thermostat issue can be a faulty thermostat. You might be able to tell if your thermostat isn’t working because you cannot use the buttons or touch screen, random things happen, the thermostat is stuck, reboots frequently. It may need replaced search online or call a service technician. Thermostat location has an impact on your comfort, typically in a centralized location, there are instances where it may be in an area that is not representative of the required comfort level. If a thermostat is in a game room with several bedrooms it will control the temperature based on the game room and not the bedrooms. If the bedrooms face south and the doors are closed there can be several degrees difference in the temperature. In this instance, the best solution may be to relocate the thermostat to a representative bedroom.
5. Furnace – If you have a furnace, check it is switched on in your attic. If someone was in the attic. The switch for the furnace power can be mistaken for a light switch, for example when people must store or retrieve things from the attic the calls come in around holiday times getting decorations to or from the attic.
6. Outside – Another power-related scenario is the electrical disconnect located outdoor above or beside the condenser is switched off. 3 typical reasons this could be the issue you had an HVAC technician at your home, and he/she forgot to turn it on before they left Shouldn’t be the case, but it has happened. Two you have some contractors using it for a power source and have not switched it back on for the most common reason. Third and sometimes comes up particularly in the Lewisville area kids cutting through yards and switching the disconnect off, unfortunate for those homeowners that we have had to help get back and running. Other issues that occur and we get calls from homeowners are the outdoor unit making loud noises – if you are experiencing this, take a video with your cell phone 9 out of 10 times it does not make that noise when a technician arrives so it is hard to determine the root cause and fix for something that the technician cannot see. Another problem might be that your compressor is making strange noises. There could be several reasons for this, such as: If you hear a clicking noise, there might be an issue with the capacitor or relay switch (depending on what type of AC you have). The most common reason for this is insects or dirt in the connector. It’s important to call a professional due to the high voltage components.
7. Other Issues – If it’s a high-temperature period, say 100-degree heat in July/ August, your unit will start to shut down in the afternoon and maybe start back up after some time. Check the Outdoor condenser for dirt build-up especially if you have a lot of trees like cottonwoods this build-up, gets sucked into the coil channels or surface. Using a garden hose rinse the surface of the coil until the water flowing out is relatively clear and grass and other things on the surface have stopped. Do not use high-pressure water on the condenser coil, it will cause damage, do not use chemicals on the condenser coil they will more than likely make the aluminum brittle and cause damage shortening the life of the unit. If there is a noise inside the condenser when the fan runs inspect for dirt or debris touching or blocking the unit’s fan If you are comfortable switching off the disconnect to isolate the power and taking the top part of the unit off and remove the debris, then putting it back on then re-energize the power. We have come across branches, more typically we come across rats that have climbed in or through the unit and cause the motor to lock up and fail on high load, let’s leave it there. Occasionally we receive service calls when people are hosting friends or family, systems always fail at the worst of times, but not always. One issue is there are more people than normal in the home, every person gives off heat roughly equivalent to a bar electric fire having 10/20 / 30 people over on a hot evening can generate a lot of heat. The system is fine it will just take a while to catch up and cool your home back down. The other semi-related issues come when there is a large group, and a door is left open either the group is outside, or it’s left open to cool the house – we get service calls as the thermostat is not performing as it normally would in sensing the outdoor air. For example – I have a party and my unit is shutting off, it’s hot in my home, I need it to cool, the thermostat is located somewhere close to the back door, its set to 72, the outdoor temperature is 70, the temperature in the family room is 76. The 70-degree air from outside blows across the thermostat it will shut down the system. Beyond this, the problems will need to be undertaken by an HVAC technician versus a homeowner due to safety or specialized tools or materials required.
8. Refrigerant Issues – If your system is running all the time or most of the day and struggling to cool or not cooling then more than likely there is a freon leak in the circuit and will need to have the source of the leak determined. It’s recommended once you notice to have it taken care of sooner than later. When freon leaks out of the system the conditions in the evaporator coil change causing the surface to start to freeze up, which thaws when the unit switches off, the thawing and freezing can cause damage to the evaporator coils.
9. Air Flow/Restrictions – There are hot & cold areas in my home, there are temperature differences between rooms. A temperature difference from one room to another can be frustrating in extreme weather that tends to magnify the issue. The cause is typically from an imbalance of air volume going to the different areas of your home. The ductwork that pulls air from your home then returns it to the rooms once it has been heated or cooled. The best practice is there is a return air grill in each room with a door so air is pulled out of each area that with the door closed the air can be circulated. In many homes, this is not the typical case with a return located in a central hallway. Conditioned air is returned via the duct back from the unit again the best practice is to have an appropriate volume of air supplied back to each area via one or more supply grills in each room. The total should be sized correctly to deliver the airflow required to cool the room and balance the airflow from the system to the home or area that the system is cooling. Ductwork is often neglected when systems are changed out over time the flex duct will degrade as it gets older combined with it not being properly sized or the airflow balanced If you are experiencing discomfort, call a professional to complete an assessment based on the issue you would like addressed. The solution set can range from adjusting the airflow if there are dampers located in your ductwork, adding dampers to your existing ductwork to balance the airflow from the system from one area that may be receiving too much and pushing it to another area. More involved solutions are to add or update ductwork configuration to supply air where it’s needed. At Southern Comfort Mechanical we saw a rise in air balance requirements with people working and schooling from home, the home offices that had not been a priority became a priority as the time spent in them increased.
10. Attic Insulation – In cases, a single-story home or upstairs will heat up throughout the day, the ac system will be running and failing to cool the space to target. The insulation may be inadequate allow the heat of the attic to be kept at bay. Heat transfers from hot to cold, meaning if there is a low thermal barrier the heat in the attic air will transfer into the area below attics in July August are typically at 140 degrees or higher if the air below is 75 or 80 the heat transfer will be noticeable. If the insulation in the attic is low over time it settles, and a rule of thumb is if it is below the level of the rafters then it’s time to consider adding more to improve the thermal barrier. This will reduce the amount of heat transfer into the home, so there is less heat for the AC to remove allowing it to keep the temperature maintained without running around the clock dropping the home energy bills.

When to Call for Help

Shortly after you notice that there is something up with your system and it’s not working like expected. In peak periods there is not enough technician capacity to get to everyone straight away so there is a wait time in extremes this can be several days. Which is a long time when your routine is disrupted.

• If your AC is blowing hot air instead of cold, it is best to call an HVAC company and get a service technician
• If the system is running and no air is coming out there is potentially low freon and the evaporator coil is frozen blocking airflow. It is best to schedule a service technician and shut off the unit. Monitor the water level in the drain pan to ensure it does not overflow and cause damages as it thaws out.

A service technician will not be able to properly diagnose a frozen system as visually he/she will not be able to see due to the ice and will not be able to get pressure and temperatures readings that are meaningful when a system is frozen.

With all these common problems and their solutions, you should be able to troubleshoot your own AC unit without any hassle or confusion. Be sure to check out some of the other articles on this site if you’re interested in learning more about air conditioners. If not, just remember that sometimes it is best to call a professional when you have AC problems.

Why Should I Have Maintenance Done For My AC Unit?

The objective of maintenance from Southern Comfort Mechanical is to complete the inspection of the system find any issues early in the season before peak times and share them so you the homeowner can decide when to complete any necessary repairs on your schedule when it’s not an extreme temperature and there is a steadier supply of components.

It’s important to have routine maintenance done by a professional service company at least once a year. If you ignore this, serious problems can result that require costly repairs.

The rule of thumb is the HVAC system costs about as much as the car in the driveway, the system works hard to keep your comfort especially in extremes there are multiple parts which like any machine will fail over time, with the added dynamic of dirt and dust outside and inside that will have an impact of the efficiency. The other key component is how well was the unit installed can have a bearing on its life. Like your car if you don’t change the oil, change the filters it will eventually lead to a breakdown, HVAC systems are the same.

In the warranty details of the equipment Condenser, Evaporator, furnace, etc. state routine maintenance is required to keep it maintained. If there is a major component failure the manufacturer can request proof of maintenance. This happens from time to time.

The recommended time is to have spring and fall maintenance completed on the system, the spring will focus on the AC system and check the system is ready for the cooling season the Fall is focused on the heating and ensure it’s safe and ready to keep you warm.

On the other hand, if you maintain your system properly with routine inspections and air filter replacements, you’ll save yourself a lot of money in the future. Not only will you prevent future AC repairs, but you’ll also be able to enjoy cool air at a moment’s notice.

If you want to get the best AC service, you must look for a local business with certified technicians. Make sure they have trained professionals who serve your area who can handle any air conditioning service needs you might have. I would recommend Southern Comfort Mechanical and becoming part of the Comfort Club.

There are a lot of companies offering maintenance, with services ranging from a quick 5 to 10-point checklist that’s over in 15 minutes, to a deep and thorough inspection with a documented report for records provided by Southern Comfort Mechanical.

FAQ on General AC Repair

Can I Repair an Air Conditioner Myself?

While you can attempt to repair more significant issues on your own, it may not be as simple as just replacing a couple of parts. Air conditioners are complex systems that require regular maintenance and upkeep to work properly, so if something major goes wrong, you’ll have to call in an expert instead. If the cost is too much for you right now, financing is an option instead to help spread out the costs over time versus paying everything upfront.

When Do I Need to Repair My Air Conditioner?

You should hire an AC professional if your air conditioner is leaking water; running for a short amount of time before shutting off; making unusual, loud noises; or simply isn’t moving air.

Components on and AC or heating can fail at any time, capacitors tend to fail when there are high temperatures because of the workload of a hot day. Similarly, motors tend to fail on hot days with high humidity. Condensate drain lines tend to have more issues when there is a string of high humidity days when the systems are pulling moisture out of the air a 5-ton system can be generating in the region of 20 gallons a day on the high end.

Electronic and electrical issues tend to group around what is happening with the weather and grid, if there is a lightning strike in an area there are homes impacted close to, brownouts and power flickers will cause issues. Rodents can cause issues year-round when they chew on wires or climb inside systems there are certain times of the year when they tend to spike. The same with insects when they build a nest in a unit, they can fill a contact or a circuit board housing and cause a failure from sorting out the components. If your unit is not cooling properly or there is frost buildup on the outside condenser coil, these are also good indicators that maintenance is due.

How Can I Find an AC Repair Professional?

There are many ways to find an AC repair service, you can ask your neighbors or friends for recommendations; check online reviews and ratings; search local advertisements.

Your ac repair company should have skilled technicians who are certified and experienced with all types of HVAC systems, including cooling units like those in older homes that may have updated or changed over time. A good A/C company should ensure that your system is working as the manufacturer intended for optimal performance. Need us to troubleshoot your furnace system in Denton? Get a free estimate today!

Ready to Experience Peak AC Performance with our AC maintenance in Flower Mound? Schedule Your Service Today.

Southern Comfort Mechanical of Frisco
7809 Jennifer Ln, Frisco TX, 75034
(972) 503-6868