Air Conditioner Repairs: 4 Reasons Your AC Isn’t Cooling

Air Conditioner Repairs: 4 Reasons Your AC Isn’t Cooling

Summers in Kelowna are getting hotter and hotter as the years go on. There’s not much point in having an AC unit if it’s not cooling your home in these warm summer months. The last thing you want is to be sitting in your scorching home, trying to figure out why your AC unit isn’t doing its job. 

There are numerous reasons why you might need air conditioner repairs, but AC troubleshooting isn’t always easy for the average person. As HVAC experts, we’re uniquely qualified to help you understand what’s going on.

Today, we’re going to tell you 4 reasons why your AC isn’t cooling. Keep reading and we’ll have your AC up and running so you can enjoy the comforts of your home.

1. Clogged Air Filters

The air filters in your AC unit are a small but important component of keeping your home cool. They basically stop contaminants from blowing freely into your home. Doing all of that hard work, however, means that they get clogged over time.

When this happens, your AC unit has to work a lot harder to cool your home. If left for long periods of time, that could damage your AC unit. At the very least, you’re looking at an improperly cooled home and high energy bills; worst case, you may have to pay for AC repairs or replacement.

Clean your AC filters once per week and replace them every 90 days or so.

2. Thermostat Settings

Your thermostat controls what your AC unit does at what time of day. If your thermostat settings aren’t optimal, you may notice that your AC isn’t cooling properly. 

It’s all about thresholds, so if you have it set to a higher threshold, it may never actually turn on. Put the thermostat below the temperature of the house and it should start cooling. If this doesn’t work, talk to your local AC professional.

3. Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is a fluid that flows through the condenser coils and absorbs the heat in the air. When you’re low on refrigerant – usually due to a refrigerant leak – your AC unit won’t be able to cool your home properly.

You can detect a refrigerant leak by listening to your AC unit. If you hear any hissing or bubbling noises coming from the unit itself, then it’s probably a refrigerant leak. Your AC will still turn on and run with a refrigerant leak, but it won’t get your home to a comfortable temperature.

4. Dirty Coils

Your AC unit comes with two sets of coils – one absorbs the heat from your home and the other transfers that heat to the outdoors. If either of these coils ends up with dirt and debris on them, the heat transfer can’t happen the way it’s supposed to.

You can use regular household soap and water to gently clean the coils. Using the hose for the outdoor coils is alright, but only on low pressure.

Is It Time for Air Conditioner Repairs?

Any one of these issues could prevent your AC unit from cooling your home. Some of the problems have easy solutions, but not all of them. If you’re unsure why your AC unit isn’t working or you know it has damage, then you need air conditioner repairs.

At Living Water Mechanical, we’re Kelowna’s top installation and repair service. Whatever the issue, we have the experience and expertise to solve it, so contact us today to set up an appointment. We are on call 24/7 for plumbing emergency.