You’re relaxing at home on a hot summer day, enjoying the cool breeze of your air conditioner. But then, you hear a mysterious whirring noise, followed by a suspicious silence. Your AC unit has turned off on its own, seemingly for no reason at all!
Does this story seem all too familiar to you? Unfortunately, many different kinds of air conditioning units are susceptible to this common problem. And the last thing you want on the hottest day of the year is for your HVAC system to stop cooling your home! If you’ve noticed your air conditioner turning itself off, here are a few problems that might be happening with your cooling system.
Improperly Programmed Thermostat
Your thermostat has an important job. It serves as the “brain” that tells your HVAC system when to begin heating and cooling your home. However, one little tweak of the settings can result in your AC turning off every 15 minutes. Before you contact us for AC repair, check your thermostat settings to make sure your system is set to blow cold air, not warm air, and the threshold for the AC to kick on is not the exact same temperature as it is outside.
Low Refrigerant
Check your air conditioner’s refrigerant levels. If your system has a leak or is running low on refrigerant, it won’t be able to properly cool your home. Some more modern systems have an auto-shutoff feature to prevent electrical shortages when refrigerant leaks or runs out, which might be exactly what’s happening to you.
Faulty Compressor
Your AC unit’s compressor acts like an engine for your system and has built-in protection against overheating. If the sealer in your compressor has begun to break down or malfunction, there may be dirt or debris entering the unit. When the compressor gets too filthy to operate properly, it’ll switch your entire system off. Get in touch with us, and we’ll arrive to fix things up ASAP.
Clogged Evaporator Coils
Have you noticed grime, gunk, and goop gathered on your outdoor AC unit? This debris might be clogging your evaporator coils. When these coils become clogged, it can actually cause your unit to freeze — literally! Frost buildup on your evaporator coils is no bueno since it blocks your system’s ability to cool your home. This kind of repair job needs a professional touch, so call our HVAC pros, and we’ll sort things out for you.
Malfunctioning Run Capacitor
Your AC’s run capacitor is what keeps your system’s fans blowing, so a problem with this component can cause your AC to shut off abruptly. We may need to replace the part, or it may just need a thorough cleaning. Either way, you’ll be very uncomfortable without this essential component, so don’t wait to schedule service.
Oversized System
Did you know that air conditioning systems aren’t one-size-fits-all? Each home needs an appropriately sized AC unit. Inadequately sized or oversized air conditioners are terrible for both your home comfort and your electric bills. If your system is the wrong size, it will work harder than it needs to, causing additional wear and tear on the unit. All this can mean you end up paying higher and higher energy bills, and nobody wants that!
If you need to replace your entire system, you might as well save money doing so. Read up on these heat pump pros and cons from our AC repair pros here and figure out if this combined heating and cooling system might be the right choice for your home!
Call Care Temp — We’ll Be There!
Care Temp is here for you year-round, even after you’ve switched off the AC. In the winter, turn to us for all of your furnace, heat pump, or boiler maintenance and repair needs in Toms River, NJ, or the surrounding area. Contact us today to receive a FREE estimate; we’re waiting to hear from you!