There are few things more irritating than a stubborn air conditioner—one that simply refuses to stay on no matter how many times you start and restart it. You might even be tempted to give it a good kick to see if that somehow magically does the trick!
But we would highly recommend against doing that, of course, because it could easily make the problem worse. It could also create a problem where there wasn’t one in the first place!
No matter how frustrating it is, your best option is to take note of the problem and report it to an expert of AC repair in Hattiesburg, MS. They’ll be able to give you advice over the phone and, if necessary, come out to fix the issue.
Some of the reasons why this issue is happening in the first place, however, can include:
1. A Dirty Air Filter
When your AC was first installed, your technician should have shown you how to change and replace the air filter. This is a mesh screen that’s designed to trap dirt, dust, and other contaminants before they can drift into the air conditioner’s sensitive components.
However, the air filter is what you might call a double-edged sword. Using it will save your AC from issues, but if you forget to regularly change it, you’ll also be introducing your AC to some bad issues.
Dirty air filters can create short-cycling, which is what happens when your AC turns on and off rapidly. It can also cause the AC to overheat, forcing it to shut-down. In some cases, it might even cause the evaporator coils to freeze (more on that below).
2. Low Refrigerant
“Refrigerant” is the chemical mixture that courses through the veins of your air conditioner. It’s an essential part of the cooling process, and if there’s anything less than the required amount of refrigerant in the system, it’s going to have problems. Low refrigerant can cause the AC to overheat and shut down early. Other than that, it can severely diminish the cooling power of the system and even cause compressor damage.
However, keep in mind that refrigerant doesn’t just “disappear” from your system with time. You should think twice about any HVAC company insisting that you need regular “top offs.”
There are really only two cases where you would have low refrigerant:
- The refrigerant was never charged properly in the first place by the HVAC technician who installed the AC. This is the only case where topping off the refrigerant makes sense.
- There’s a refrigerant leak somewhere in the system, and it must be repaired before being recharged with more.
3. Your Air Conditioner Is Improperly Sized
When a technician “sizes” your AC, they must perform a series of load calculations to determine how much cooling power your home needs.
Too much power will cause your unit to short-cycle. Short-cycling is when the unit turns on and off far too quickly, resulting in the home failing to cool properly at all. Not to mention it’s very taxing on your system.
If your AC has been short-cycling from the very beginning, you’ll likely need a replacement. Otherwise, call up an expert to have them find the problem.
If your air conditioner isn’t acting right, contact AirSouth Cooling and Heating today to speak with an expert.
