Common Reasons Your AC Is Underperforming This Summer
If your AC system has been underperforming this summer, you are likely frustrated and disappointed. Such a unit will not cool your home or workspace as desired, and the electric bill will increase significantly as the unit overworks to maintain the set temperature. Hiring an AC contractor to handle the air conditioning repair work will help fix the situation quickly.
But before the expert comes, it's vital to understand the possible reasons why your AC hasn't been performing as expected. This way, you will resolve the issue that compromised the system and ensure other similar mishaps don't occur. Below are common reasons for AC underperformance.
Exterior Unit's Fins Are Bent
Most air conditioning systems have indoor and outdoor units. The unit installed outside houses the compressor, a component the entire AC relies on to function optimally. It's where the refrigerant gets condensed and makes the cooling process possible. This is also where hot air collected from the house is expelled.
If your unit has a bent fin, it will be difficult to expel heat as it should. This issue can cause the entire outdoor unit, including the compressor, to overheat and malfunction. So, if you notice that the fins appear to be bent, call your AC contractor for repairs.
Evaporator Coils Are Frozen
The evaporator coils in the air conditioning system usually cool air as it gets into the system. Once the coils become too coil, ice will start to build up, a situation that will diminish their capability to cool air. This issue will force the AC to give out warm air or no air. You may also have an icy coil issue if there is a refrigerant leak, dirty air filter, or system blockage issue.
The best way to prevent this AC problem is to change the filter regularly as recommended. And if you see ice on the AC, be sure to call your AC specialist to diagnose and fix the issue before the entire air conditioning system breaks down.
Fan Speed Isn't Optimized
The AC fans are designed to function at a particular speed. If the speed isn't optimized at the manufacturing stage, or it is miscalibrated when mounting the unit, your AC will struggle to regulate temperatures as per the settings. This means the unit will work inefficiently, increasing the energy bill. Calling an AC repair technician to fix this issue is recommended so your air conditioner can attain the temperature set on the thermostat.