Common Air Conditioner Mistakes You Can Fix Yourself

With these 7 simple fixes for your air conditioner, you can easily troubleshoot and fix the issues on your own without having to call a repair technician.

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Air conditioning is one of the familiar and essential devices for homes and offices in the summer. However, even though it is familiar, you should equip yourself with some knowledge about air conditioning to handle malfunctions and avoid unnecessary costs.

1. Air conditioning does not run

If you turn on the air conditioning and it does not run, do not immediately call a repairman. The first thing you need to do is check if the power is on. Sometimes, because of the hot weather, everyone in the house uses fans, air conditioners, etc., leading to an overloaded electrical system, causing blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers. Or simply, your remote control is out of battery.

If after checking the usual causes and the air conditioning still does not run, then you should call a technician to ensure safety and allocate the time and usage amount in your household to avoid overloading.

2. Poor cooling performance

This is a common problem that occurs after using the air conditioning for a while. Don’t worry, you just need to turn off the air conditioning and carefully clean the unit. After a long period of use, the fan blades in the air conditioning unit can get clogged with dust, making them less effective. You just need to remove the fan blade and clean it, dry it, and put it back.

If you have done these steps and the room is still as hot as before, you should check if the curtains and doors are closed. Sunlight passing through the window frames can increase the temperature up to 2-3 times higher than normal. The doors should also be closed tightly because if not, the room temperature will dissipate outside. The temperature difference makes the room hotter and consumes more electricity.

Furthermore, it could be that your room is too large for the air conditioner’s small capacity. In this case, the air conditioner will need some time to cool the room down. However, to avoid this situation, you should consider and calculate, choose the appropriate air conditioner model that matches the area of the space you are using.

3. Air conditioner constantly turns on and off

After using the air conditioner for a long time without cleaning, dust will accumulate on the evaporator coil, causing blockage in the refrigerant lines, which hinders the normal operation of the unit and leads to frequent power outages during use. Additionally, frost buildup on the evaporator coil is also one of the causes of the unit shutting down.

Therefore, you need to clean the entire air conditioner to ensure proper ventilation. At the same time, you can take advantage of the maintenance process to make the air conditioner run smoother.

In addition to the reasons mentioned above, power overload, faulty temperature sensors, or the air conditioner running for an extended period can also cause this phenomenon.


 

4. Loud noise from the air conditioner

If your home air conditioner has this problem, check the outdoor unit. This problem can be caused by excess refrigerant, a faulty compressor, or loose bolts and screws.

To fix this problem, you need to release some of the refrigerant by using a hexagonal key to release it from the outdoor unit.

Then, check the compressor and tighten the bolts and screws. Remove any loose parts that may vibrate and cause noise.

5. Air conditioner leaking water

An air conditioner naturally produces condensation water. This water is usually drained out through plastic or rubber tubing to cool the area. However, if the air conditioner is leaking water, it can cause a lot of inconvenience for users, especially for families who choose to have wooden (or faux wood) flooring. If the water directly falls on the floor, it can cause peeling, damage to the floor, and incur repair costs, as well as inconvenience for users. The same goes for when water seeps into the walls.

To fix this, first, you need to clean the evaporator coil. Then, you can adjust the drainage pipe and create a certain slope for the water to flow out. If the air conditioner continues to leak water, you should remove the evaporator coil and use a small stick to clear the drain hole, then clean the evaporator coil.

6. Foul odor coming from the air conditioner

If you suddenly smell a foul odor from the air conditioner, it may indicate a gas leak in the evaporator coil. First, turn off the unit and open the door to ventilate the room, then check the gas lines. Sitting in the room with a gas leak can cause dizziness or fainting if inhaled.

If the wind smells like a bathroom, it may be because the drainage pipe from the air conditioner is directly connected to the toilet drainage system or the gas trap is missing. Therefore, it flows back to the air conditioner and causes the odor. In this case, you should separate the drainage pipe from the air conditioner and the toilet drainage system.

Moreover, if the wind has a musty smell, it is likely that the air conditioner has been unused for a long time and has developed mold in the evaporator coil. Therefore, you should remove it quickly and clean it as mold is not good for your health.

7. Air conditioner not cooling or inconsistent cooling

There are many reasons for this situation. Before calling a repairman or asking for advice from the manufacturer, you can check the following causes:

– Check if the operating mode on the remote control is correct. The correct mode must be “Cool” or “Auto”. If the displayed mode on the air conditioner is different, you need to adjust it. Modes such as “Dry”, “Fan”, and “Heat” are not cooling modes.

– The outdoor unit’s fan has a problem. Check it for 10-20 minutes; if the outdoor unit’s fan does not run or runs slower than normal, it needs to be repaired or replaced immediately. Many cases where the fan does not run will cause the air conditioner compressor to fail.

– The air conditioner’s compressor is faulty. This is also one of the causes of the air conditioner not cooling or inconsistent cooling. If the outdoor unit’s fan runs but the compressor does not, it means the compressor has a problem. It needs to be repaired or replaced immediately so that the air conditioner can work normally again.

– Your air conditioner may be running out of refrigerant. To achieve a cooling effect, the air conditioner needs refrigerant. If the air conditioner is not working properly, you should check by observing the refrigerant line entering the outdoor unit.

Above are common problems when using an air conditioner during hot summer days and their possible solutions at home. For simple issues that you can handle, do it yourself. However, for technical problems, it is recommended to consult professionals and be cautious about the services and costs before calling a repairman.

Source: phunuvietnam.vn

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