COMMON AC EMERGENCIES

December 27, 2023

As a homeowner, there are many responsibilities you have. Looking after your heating and cooling systems should be at the top of your list. If you experience any of the common air conditioning emergencies that we’re going to go over below, it’s important that you contact a professional for quick assistance.

BURNING SMELL

There is no physical combustion that takes place inside of your air conditioning system. Therefore, there should be no burning smell coming from it. If you start to sense a burning smell coming from your air conditioning system, then it’s a major cause for concern. In most cases, there is some sort of electrical malfunction going on with your system that has caused the wires to heat up enough to melt them. You should immediately shut off your air conditioning system at the circuit breaker and contact a professional for further assistance.

SCREECHING NOISE

Any unusual noises coming from your air conditioning system should be a cause for concern. If you experience a loud screeching noise, it’s time to shut off your system. This screeching noise could be caused by many different factors, ranging from mild to severe. In severe cases, a screeching noise could be caused by a compressor that is operating well above its usual level of pressure.

MASSIVE LEAK

It’s completely normal for your air conditioner to produce water by pulling excess humidity out of the air inside of your home. However, this water should drip directly off of the evaporator coil and into the drain pan. When there is water overflowing the floor by your air conditioning unit, it’s typically one of two problems.

First, the drain may actually be clogged and restricting any water from flowing out of it. This causes the water to get backed up in the drain pan and overflow out of the unit. If the drain pan is clear, then the leak is likely refrigerant. This is a dangerous substance that should only be handled by a qualified professional.

NO COLD AIR BEING PRODUCED

Probably one of the most annoying problems that you’ll ever have to deal with is an air conditioning system that doesn’t produce cold air. This could be caused by a number of factors. If you’ve checked the basics of your thermostat settings and air filter for any clogs, then you may have a refrigerant leak. It’s best to consult a professional after checking the basics to determine the actual cause of the problem and get it fixed quickly.

STUCK ON

Another scary problem you may deal with is your air conditioner being stuck on. You’ll want to first check the settings on your thermostat to ensure they’re not set wrong. If everything looks good, the reason your air conditioner may be stuck on is due to faulty wiring. It’s best to turn your air conditioning system completely off at the circuit breaker and contact a professional for further assistance. You never just want to let your air conditioning system continuously run as it can lead to excessive wear and tear on its internal components.

CIRCUIT BREAKER CONSTANTLY TRIPPING

If you turn your air conditioning system on and it shuts right off, it’s time to head to your circuit panel box. Take a look at the circuit breaker for your air conditioning system and see if it’s been tripped. If so, you’ll want to turn it off for a couple of minutes. Then, turn the breaker back to the on position to see if your air conditioning system has reset. If it trips immediately, it’s an indication that there’s a bigger problem with your AC system. This could be a failed capacitor, wiring short, or even a loose connection.

THERMOSTAT NOT TURNING ON

When you notice that the temperature in your home has gotten overly warm, the first thing that you do is head to your thermostat. When the screen is blank, it can be easy to think that it simply ran out of battery or got unintentionally shut off. If replacing the batteries didn’t work and there’s no child-lock on your thermostat, then you’ll want to check your circuit breaker. If the circuit breaker for your AC is on and your thermostat isn’t turning on, then it’s an indication of a faulty thermostat. You should call a professional to verify the culprit and replace your faulty thermostat with a new one.

BLOWING WARM AIR

Nothing can be more annoying than your air conditioning system suddenly blowing out warm air. After checking your thermostat to ensure that it’s set to Cool mode, it’s clear that you have a problem. This could be due to low refrigerant levels due to a new leak in your system or dirty evaporator coils. Either way, the problem should be addressed by one of our experts.

POOR AIRFLOW

Another issue that may warrant an emergency air conditioner repair is poor airflow. When you put your hand next to your supply vents, it won’t feel like there is any air coming out of your ducting. This could be caused by a number of factors. The most common are faulty blower motors and obstructions in the ducting.

OVERLY HUMID INSIDE

As your air conditioner is running, it will naturally remove humidity from the air. This excess moisture forms on the evaporator coil and drips down into your system’s drain pan. Unfortunately, when your evaporator coil freezes up, it can prevent moisture from being removed from the air inside of your home. The result is an overly humid indoor environment that feels much hotter than what your thermostat is reading.

SHORT CYCLING

When your home’s air conditioning system seems to be kicking on and off over and over again in a short period of time, it’s referred to as short cycling. When this happens, your air conditioning system is unable to run long enough to adequately cool and dehumidify that air in your home. This issue can be caused by various factors, including wiring issues, dirty air filters, frozen evaporator coils, or an undersized unit. It’s typically best to call in a professional to examine the issue and identify its particular culprit in your situation.

ICE BUILDUP

Another reason that you may need to call in a professional AC technician is if there is ice buildup on your air conditioning system. This buildup will occur on or near the evaporator coil. It’s a result of the refrigerant inside of the coil not working correctly. This can be caused by a few different factors. These include low refrigerant levels, dirty evaporator coils, restricted airflow, dirty air filters, and so forth. Calling in a professional will allow them to diagnose the cause of your ice buildup and address the underlying issue to get your air conditioning system back up and running.

PROFESSIONAL AC SERVICES

Alberta Mountain Air Heating and Air Conditioning provides professional AC services for the whole Alberta, CA community. We’re also here for all of your heating, ductless mini-split, and indoor air quality needs. Contact us today to get the help you need with your home!