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Dirty Equipment Is A Leading Reason Residential Air Conditioning Repairs Are Needed

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It might surprise you to learn that a common reason for residential air conditioning repairs is dirty equipment. By simply keeping your air conditioner clean, you can prevent problems and save money on repairs. Here's a look at some parts of an AC that lead to malfunctions when they get dirty.

The Refrigerant Coils

The copper coils that carry refrigerant can get coated with dust if they're not cleaned off. The coils located outside might get covered in dirt or grass clippings too. When the coils aren't cleaned, the dirt or dust forms a barrier between the refrigerant and the air. This means the evaporator coils can't cool down your home as well, and the condenser coils can't cool off the refrigerant as well.

This could lead to the coils icing over. Then your AC may shut down completely until the problem is repaired. When your AC has to run longer or work harder due to overheating, parts in the condenser or air handler can be damaged. If your AC technician discovers the compressor was strained and needs to be replaced, you may be faced with expensive repairs that could have been avoided.

The Fans

The blower fan pushes cool air through your house, and if it can't spin like it should due to dust buildup, your home won't cool down. The condenser fan blows on the coils outside to help blow away heat and cool the refrigerant down. If the coils can't cool down enough, the parts in the condenser can overheat and malfunction.

A dirty filter is often behind blower problems. When the filter is too dirty, the blower may struggle and not be able to work properly. Plus, the motor that operates the blower might burn out. A dirty filter leads to a dirty blower wheel, and that compounds problems inside the air handler. The repair technician might need to replace the motor or work on the blower to get the parts working again.

When a condenser fan gets dirty and clogged up, its motor can be affected too. A more serious threat is that the condenser will get too hot and strain the compressor. Either problem leads to the need for air conditioning repairs.

The Condensation Drain

The condensation drain may not seem like an important part of your air conditioner, but if it gets clogged with algae or debris, water will back up and could shut your AC down. Normally, condensation drains in a pan and flows out through a drain. If the drain is blocked, the pan fills and spills water on the floor or inside the air handler.

To prevent this problem, some air conditioners have a float valve in the pan. If the valve senses the water level is too high, it sends a signal to shut down the AC to avoid water damage. This could leave you without cool air while you wait for the air conditioning repair technician to arrive.

If your AC doesn't have a float valve, you could end up with water damage, rust, and mold on your floor or in the air handler due to water that couldn't drain away.

To learn more about residential air conditioning repair, contact a company like A1 Zuzu Plumbing, Heating and Air.


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