Hello, my name is Darby Aldrich. I would like to talk to you about the importance of maintaining your air conditioning system. When I moved to a hot climate, I did not realize how vital having a running air conditioner was for living comfortably. When the unit just stopped working one day, the temperature inside the house rivaled the piping hot weather outdoors. We had to go to the community center to keep the kids from feeling sick. While we were gone, we had a local HVAC contractor fix the unit. She let us know that some simple maintenance tasks would prevent that situation in the future. I will use this site to closely explore those tasks in great detail. I hope you can use the information to keep your air conditioner running like new. Thanks.
A few things can be to blame when your air conditioner won't operate. Not all of them are major problems that are expensive to repair. For instance, your air conditioner can shut down when the condensation drain line gets clogged and the water backs up. The AC shuts down to prevent water damage. Here's a quick look at the condensation system in your AC and when AC repairs may be needed.
Condensation Happens Naturally In Your AC
Condensation occurs naturally when air passes over a surface that's colder than the air. In your air conditioner, this happens when room air is pulled through the air handler and blows over the cold refrigerant coil.
This causes condensation to bead up on the coil and drip into a pan. The pan eventually fills up with water, so the condensation has to be removed somehow. This is usually done naturally by connecting a drain line to the pan that allows the condensation to drain outdoors.
A Blocked Drain Causes Water To Back Up
If the drain is clogged with algae, bugs, or some other obstruction, water can't escape. Water builds up in the pan instead and will eventually overflow and get the air handler and floor wet. If you don't notice the problem quickly, mold can also grow due to the damp floor.
An AC repair technician can unblock the drain to get water flowing again. They may also suggest putting in a float switch and connecting it so your AC shuts off if water gets too high in the pan. Many air conditioners, especially older ones, don't have float switches.
An AC technician needs to install one, and it's worth it to protect your home from water damage. If your AC already has a float switch, the repair technician can test it to see if it's bad.
A Float Switch Prevents Water From Overflowing
When water backs up due to a clogged drain, the float switch rises until it gets high enough to trip the safety mechanism that shuts off your air conditioner. However, the float switch can sometimes become faulty. In that case, it may shut the AC down even though the water is draining properly.
You don't want to deal with an AC that shuts down randomly, so the AC repair technician will replace the faulty float switch with a new one. A float switch is a small part that isn't too expensive, and it's easy to find and replace. However, you'll need to pay for a house call and labor from the AC repair technician too.
The float switch is an important part of your air conditioner that may not seem like a big deal, but it has the power to shut your AC off to get your attention. Since the condensation system may be the last thing you think about when your AC won't work, call an AC repair technician for help when your AC shuts down. They'll find the problem and replace the bad float switch so your house cools down again quickly.
Contact a local company to learn more about AC repair.
Share22 May 2023
