Your air conditioner (A/C) system consists of several main parts, including the air handler, condenser and ductwork. These components work together to keep your home comfortable and your energy costs low. So what do you do when problems arise with these components? Try these three A/C troubleshooting tips:

• Examine the air handler
• Inspect the condenser unit
• Check the ductwork

Examine the air handler

The components of the air handler cool the air, which travels to your rooms though ducts. Several air-handler issues can occur, including:

• Dirty filters, which can decrease the airflow to the evaporator coils.
• Dirt accumulating on the evaporator coils, which insulates the coils, and hinders the cooling process.
• Dirt accumulating in the unit, which then flows through your ducts and into your home’s rooms.
• Extra water collecting in the condensate pan, due to a drain blockage. This creates excess humidity, mold and mildew.

Inspect the condenser unit

The condenser unit transfers heat outdoors, and begins the refrigerant cooling process. A/C troubleshooting areas with respect to the condenser include:

• Dirty coils, which slow the heat transfer to the outdoors.
• Compressor complications, which can stop the cooling process.
• Debris accumulating around the condenser, which hinders necessary airflow.
• Low refrigerant levels, which indicates a leak, and reduces the cooling process.

Check the ductwork

Ductwork transfers the conditioned air to your rooms, and issues with it can include:

• Leaks in ducts due to worn duct tape or cracked sealant that was applied to seal old leaks.
• Warm air from unconditioned spaces, such as attics and basements, entering leaks in ducts, and changing the temperature of the conditioned air flowing to your rooms.
• Cool air escaping through cracks in ducts, wasting valuable energy.
• Dirt and dust entering through cracks in ducts, and flowing into your rooms.
• Moisture entering through cracks, producing mold or mildew, and potentially resulting in foul odors, as well.
• Excess moisture increasing the humidity in your home’s air.

As a homeowner, you can perform A/C troubleshooting and minor maintenance on your air conditioner, but if you suspect the problem is beyond your capabilities, contact the professionals at Powers Heating & Air. We’ll conduct a thorough inspection of your air conditioner before minor problems become larger issues, and we proudly serve customers in the Peachtree City area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree, GA and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about a/c troubleshooting tips and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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