Air conditioning systems are fairly complex and have numerous components that can wear out or start malfunctioning. You’ll want to have any AC problem fixed as soon as you can. Nonetheless, some issues are much more serious than others and constitute an emergency since they could seriously damage your AC system or prevent it from working altogether. Watch out for these AC emergencies so that you know when you need to take immediate action.
The AC Suddenly Won’t Turn On
The most obvious emergency situation is if you find that your air conditioning suddenly won’t run when it should. Even though the Los Angeles area rarely experiences extreme heat, it may not take long for your house to become unbearably hot and uncomfortable if your air conditioning isn’t working.
There are a wide variety of reasons that an air conditioner won’t turn on when it’s supposed to. First, make sure the circuit breaker for the AC system hasn’t tripped. If the breaker is still on, an issue with the thermostat may be preventing it from signaling the AC system to run.
Another possibility is that the contactor switch in the AC condenser is bad and will need to be replaced. This switch receives the signal from the thermostat telling the condenser to turn on. If the switch is bad, the condenser won’t receive the signal and won’t attempt to turn on.
The condenser’s start capacitor could also be bad. The capacitor works by storing a powerful electrical charge that it releases to help the compressor motor and condenser fan motor power up. These motors require so much power to turn on that your air conditioning normally won’t be able to turn on if the start capacitor is bad.
A handful of other issues could also be preventing your air conditioning from running. The only way to determine your specific AC issue is to have a professional technician inspect your entire cooling system.
The AC Is Frozen and Blowing Hot Air
An air conditioning system will quickly start blowing hot air any time the evaporator coil inside the house freezes. One of the most common issues that can cause this is running the AC with an overly dirty air filter. Despite the evaporator coil being extremely cold, the condensation that forms on it typically never freezes since a constant flow of warm air is moving across the coil. The coil often freezes when the air filter is very dirty because the dirty filter greatly reduces the amount of warm air being drawn into the AC system.
A frozen evaporator coil is considered an emergency because the compressor can suffer serious damage if you continue running your air conditioning when it’s frozen. There is even a chance that the compressor motor can burn out, in which case you might have to spend a few thousand dollars on repairs. That’s why you should immediately shut your air conditioning off if you ever notice it’s blowing hot air.
If the filter looks extremely dirty, you need to replace it. You then need to wait a few hours for the coil to fully thaw before turning your air conditioning back on. If the filter isn’t that dirty or your AC freezes again after you replace the filter, you’ll need to have an HVAC technician perform a diagnostic assessment. Your air conditioner could be low on refrigerant or have another issue that is causing it to freeze. The system won’t be able to cool your home properly until you can get it fixed.
A Humming Noise Is Coming From the Outdoor Unit
Don’t ignore a humming or buzzing noise coming from the AC condenser outside your house. This noise most commonly indicates that the condenser fan motor is dead or that the unit has some electrical issue. In either case, major damage can result if you don’t shut your air conditioning off. There is even a small risk that the condenser could end up catching fire if it has a frayed wire or some other electrical fault.
You’ll need to contact an HVAC company and have a technician perform a diagnostic service if you hear a humming or buzzing noise coming from your condenser. The same is true if you hear this type of sound coming from your indoor air conditioner. In this case, the noise indicates there’s an issue with the blower motor that could result in additional damage if it keeps running.
You should also shut your air conditioning off if you hear any other unusual sounds coming from either part of the system. A squealing or screeching sound typically indicates that the bearings in one of the system’s motors are worn out. These bearings are what drive the motors and allow them to run. If any of the motors continue trying to run when the bearings are worn, there is a high chance it will soon overheat and potentially end up burning out. You’d then need to pay much more to replace the entire motor instead of just replacing the bearings.
The Condenser Fan Isn’t Running When the AC Is On
The condenser fan works to blow air over the condenser coil, which is what allows a cooling system to release the heat it removed from the inside of the house. The condenser fan is usually loud enough that you’ll be able to hear it running when standing in the room nearest to the outside unit. If your air conditioning is on and you don’t hear the fan running, you need to go outside to check if it’s spinning. If the fan isn’t on, you then need to go back inside and immediately switch the thermostat off so that your AC doesn’t keep running.
These actions are necessary because major damage can occur to the compressor if it runs while the condenser fan is off. You’ll likely end up needing to spend much more on repairs if you don’t get the fan fixed immediately. Even worse, the compressor could end up completely breaking down, in which case it probably won’t be able to be repaired and will have to be replaced instead.
For more than six decades, Kahn Air Conditioning has been the company that homeowners and business owners in Northridge and the adjacent areas of Southern California have trusted for their indoor comfort needs. Our team of NATE-certified technicians repairs and services all makes and models of cooling and heating equipment. That includes central air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps and ductless mini-splits. If your air conditioning won’t run or your HVAC system has any other issues, you can count on us to properly diagnose the problem and repair it correctly. We have a strong reputation for performing exceptional work at fair, competitive prices without ever cutting corners.
When you need an expert to diagnose an HVAC issue, install a new heating and cooling system or help with your indoor air quality, contact our team at Kahn Air Conditioning.
