New Port Richey AC Repair – Why Does My Air Conditioner Keep Breaking Down?

Air conditioners have a lot in common with cars: they cost thousands of dollars, they’re complex machines that require professionals to work on them, and when they start breaking down, it’s incredibly frustrating.

We understand, at New Port Richey AC repair, that it can be a real nightmare, especially if it happens all the time. So we’re here to talk about a few of the things that could be plaguing your air conditioning system.
 
Most of the time, part of the problem is that it’s hard to tell when there is going to be a problem. You don’t think there’s anything wrong with your central air conditioning until it’s not working. The unit making all the noise is outside, and as long as your interior stays cool (and doesn’t smell funny) you’re probably going to assume all is well.
 
Before we jump in, a thought: if your air conditioning system is breaking down often enough, it might be time to buy a new installation. However, this article isn’t about that, so much as it’s about why you’re experiencing breakdowns. There are a few common things you could be dealing with.
 
First, it could just be old age. As we were just discussing, replacement is an inevitable part of having central air conditioning. You’ll get as many as 15 years out of a system with proper care, but they aren’t immortal. And that’s good – when you do replace your system, make sure the contractors making the sale help you choose the best of new available technology.

Upgrade your efficiency and take advantage of lower energy bills. Get an advanced thermostat that you can program from your iPad. The world is your extremely cool oyster.
 
But on the very good chance that you’d prefer to keep your existing system in good health, here are some other things that could be causing your issues.
 
Issues with refrigerant could cause shutdowns. More commonly, a refrigerant leak will manifest as your system blowing warmer air than you’d like. However, if you ignore the signs long enough, the low refrigerant and the ensuing ice-over that it causes inside the system could lead to more widespread mayhem.

At the first sign of a leak, you should call a trained and licensed AC repair technician to find and patch the leak and charge your refrigerant to optimal levels.
 
Your thermostat could be on the fritz. And frankly, that’s far from the worst-case scenario. If your air conditioner seems to be working intermittently, check your thermostat. Because a thermostat is essentially a very complicated “ON” switch, issues with the thermostat will often result in a system that doesn’t behave the way it should.

This isn’t hard to troubleshoot. Ensure that it is set correctly to “COOL” and at least two degrees below room temperature. At that point, if you’re still experiencing issues, it may be time to call the pro’s.
 
You could have a clogged condensate drain. Many air conditioning systems have a mechanism that shuts them off if the condensate drain line becomes clogged. This is to avoid flooding in your home. If you go to your outside unit, look for the dripping line outside the chassis. It stays busy removing condensation produced by the evaporator coil.

However, it’s susceptible to clogs from mold, algae, dirt, and debris. It should be cleaned during all preventive maintenance, but it’s always possible that something could have happened to it. You should have your repairman come out to flush and vacuum the drain if you see standing water in the drain pan.
 
Your ducts, filters, or intake vents could be overdue for a cleaning. When you neglect to keep your system clean, you restrict airflow. That causes the temperatures inside around your evaporator coils to drop. If that goes on too long, the system begins to ice over as the condensation freezes.

At that point, the coils are unable to do their job, your system becomes heavily restricted and eventually shuts down to protect itself. You’ll have to have the system thawed out, all ice removed (you can run the blower to help) and then restart it. If you’re not sure how to do this, your friendly neighborhood New Port Richey AC repair team is ready to help.
 
Electrical issues could cause shutdowns. If a tripped breaker often accompanies your system shutting down, you could be dealing with an electrical issue. Most modern air conditioners are equipped with a way to shut the system down and trip the breaker in the event of overheating, voltage issues, or danger.

It is also possible that a bad capacitor is the culprit. It is even possible that the constant temperature changes have loosened wires somewhere in your system. However, we cannot stress clearly enough that you should not attempt repairs on the electrical system without training. The voltage running through your air conditioning system is far too high for that kind of risk.
 
There are other reasons, perhaps less common, that could also be shutting your system down. A good rule of thumb is that if you get a very large repair bill– say one quarter the cost to buy a new system – it is probably time to opt for an upgrade, rather than a repair. Once very large things are going bad in your system, it’s likely that other things will follow suit. As always, we’re here to help with your New Port Richey AC Repair needs!

If you need you AC repair or service in or around New Port Richey, give us a call today at 727-270-9819 and save $35 on any paid repair. 

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