Phoenix Arizona Air Conditioning Repair Service

Dirty Air Filter

Your air conditioner’s filter really isn’t a repair item as much as it is a maintenance one but it is so important we had to mention it. Home owners can easily forget about changing the filter and once it starts to clog it can be the source of other problems. It is a good idea to replace the air filter once a month if the air conditioner is in constant use.

• High Electric Bill

Your air conditioner uses fans to draw air through the filter, cool it, and circulate it throughout your home. When the filter is restricted do to build up then the fan motor has to work harder to do it’s job. When you start to see electric bills that are higher than normal it is a good idea to check your a/c filter.

• Poor or Slow Cooling

A dirty air filter can allow dirt to build up on your evaporator coil which is responsible for cooling the air that flows through it. When the evap coil gets dirty it looses efficiency and your air conditioner has to run longer than before to cool your home.

• AC System Overheating

When additional demand is placed on your air conditioning system due to a clogged filter the system runs the risk of overheating. Sometimes this can cause your system to cycle off to prevent a thermal overload on the compressor and motor which will prevent you home from cooling. It can also damage your a/c’s components over time.

• Frozen Evaporator Coil

The evaporator coil is the part of your air conditioner that gets cold during normal operation. The coil relies on air flow to remove moisture that builds up on it as it cools the air passing through it. If the air is restricted by a dirty filter then the moisture can freeze until the coil is completely filled with ice. This will block more air flow and further reduce cooling. If this happens, it is best to replace the filter and give the coil a few hours to thaw before restarting the a/c unit.

Bad Contactor / Relay

The contactor in an air conditioner is activated by the thermostat and used to send power to the compressor or condenser and the fan to start the system cooling. When the thermostat in your home has reached it’s set temperature it removes power from the contactor which shuts off the a/c system. If you replace this part make sure to remove power by pulling the fuses or flipping the circuit breaker to your air conditioning unit. Mark locations of the wires on the old contactor and swap them to the new part one at a time.

• A/C Unit Will Not Run

Verify that the contactor is receiving voltage from the thermostat. Usually it is 24 VAC but can be 110 VAC or 220 VAC in some cases. If the contactor has shorted usually a fuse on the control board will also be blown. Make sure power is shut off and take a resistance measurement across the contactor’s coil. The reading should be around 20 ohms. If it reads something close to 0 ohms it is probably shorted, and something much larger than 20 ohms indicates an open coil.

• A/C Unit Will Not Turn Off

Contactors can become pitted and will arc when closed. This arc can weld the contacts together and cause the contactor to stick in the closed or on position. When this happens the unit will not shut off and the contactor should be replaced.

 Bad Capacitor

Air Conditioning systems use a capacitor to store electrical energy. A blown capacitor is one of the most common reasons why homeowners in Phoenix, AZ need professional air conditioner service. The capacitor aids the compressor motor or fan motor in starting and running. Before working on your a/c system’s capacitor you should remove power to the ac unit and discharge it by shorting the terminals of the capacitor with a screwdriver that has an insulated handle. It is normal to see a spark while doing this. If the capacitor is leaking do not touch the fluid coming out of it. When replacing the capacitor it is important to get one with the same micro farad and voltage rating.

• A/C Unit’s fan will not run

The run capacitor on the fan may be bad. Sometimes a buzzing sound can be heard at the condensor fan’s motor. If a stick is used to start the fan spinning the a/c unit will run. Most run capacitors are usually under 100 uf and have an all metal housing.

• A/C Unit’s compressor will not run

The start capacitor for the compressor motor may be bad. Start capacitors are usually 140 uf or more and are usually black in color with a plastic housing.

• Capacitor Troubleshooting

First visually inspect the capacitor for obvious defects. Any cracking, bulging, leaks, or corrosion are signs that the capacitor should be replaced. Connect a capacitance meter to the capacitor’s terminals. The reading should be within 6% of the value written on your a/c system’s capacitor.

Low Refrigerant

 Refrigerant which is also sometimes referred to as Freon is used to transfer heat in an air conditioning system. Heat is absorbed from air inside the house and transferred to the outside. The now cooled air is recirculated back into your home. You must have an EPA certification to purchase CFC or HCFC refrigerants such as R-22. Without a license you will only be able to check if your system needs to be charged. If refrigerant needs to be added it could be a sign that you have a leak somewhere in your a/c system.

• High Electric Bill

When low on refrigerant / freon your air conditioning system must work harder to cool your home. If everything else in your a/c system is checking out ok and your system seems to run for longer than normal it might have a low charge.

• Poor or Slow Cooling

The split temperature of your air conditioning unit should be roughly 18 to 20 degrees. The split temperature is the difference between the temperature of the supply air being drawn in through your intake (air filter) and the temperature of the return air coming from your vents. If the a/c unit has been operating for at least 15 minutes and the filter and evaporator coils are clean then low refrigerant could be the cause.

• Checking the Refrigerant Charge

Remove power from your air conditioning unit by pulling the fuse or with the circuit breaker. With the unit off connect the blue hose on your gauge to the low pressure side and the red hose to the high pressure side. If you don’t have color coded hoses on your gauge usually the left gauge is the low pressure side. The connections on the end of the hose are also different sizes making it difficult to connect the gauge incorrectly. Power on the A/C unit and wait about 15 minutes for the system to stabilize. The pressures on your gauge should correspond with the manufacture’s recommendations on the unit. Check the temperatures by measuring the outside air temperature, the return air temperature, and the temperatures of the low and high side lines where your gauges are connected. Most A/C units have a chart inside that will tell you what these readings should be. If the measurements don’t match up it is best to call CTS Air Conditioning at this point and we will inspect and charge your system. If your a/c system is low on refrigerant it may have a leak which should be repaired right away before your air conditioner is seriously damaged.

Clogged Drain Line

Air from your home is drawn across the evaporator coil to be cooled. When this happens the air will release it’s moisture which appears as condensation on the evaporator coil. Your system is equipped with a drain pain beneath the evaporator coil to catch the water, and the drain pipe allows the drain pan to be emptied as it fills. If the air conditioner drain pipe is plugged then the water has no where to go and will often cause damage to your house.

• Water coming out of your a/c intake or vents

Water can overflow into you home and can sometimes be seen coming out of the vents or intake. If you notice this you should check your drain pipe for a blockage. Water can destroy the flooring side you house and it may also damage the ceiling and walls.

• Water leaking through your home’s ceiling

A blocked drain line may cause water to come through your ceiling, or run down the walls. If left untreated severe damage can occur to your home. Harmful contaminates such as mold may also start to grow which could make you sick. Repair work should be done as soon as possible before something like this happens.

• Stains on your home’s ceiling or walls

When water first begins to leak inside your home you might notice stains or discoloration on your ceiling or walls. Inspect the drain pipe and fix it before the problem gets worse.

• Stains on your home’s roof

If the drain line becomes disconnected or obstructed water may come out on your roof. If the drain line is not repaired algae may start to grow on your roof and damage to shingles or other roofing materials may occur.

• Repairing a clogged drain line

One common source of clogs in your air conditioner’s drain line is the P-trap. If your drain is stopped up first disconnect it from the a/c unit and check the trap. If the trap is clean then there may be a clog in drain line. You can flush it with water from a garden hose after disconnecting it from you a/c system. You can also use a shop vac to suck out the debris. If both of these techniques don’t work then it is usually not very expensive to replace the entire drain line.

• Preventing a clogged drain line

To help prevent the a/c drain line from clogging you can pour a cup of bleach down it. If this is done once a season it can help prevent algae from growing inside the drain line.