When to perform central AC repair is often a blurry subject for many homeowners.

A lot of times, many people are not sure whether they are experiencing service failure or not. You do not want to keep waiting until the system completely breaks down.

If your AC unit breaks down, you have no choice but to call for house AC repair. And you do not want to wait until the situation is an emergency.

Therefore, what is the best time to call for central air conditioner repair?

Better still, can you do home AC repair yourself?

What is the cost of AC repair?

Keep reading to find out more.

Common Problems that Call for Central AC Repair

A malfunctioning AC can quickly turn discomfort into an emergency case on a hot summer day. The situation is even much worse if you have babies, asthma patients, older people or pets in your house. If you have any delicate cases in your house, feel free to reach out for emergency AC repair Santa Clarita.

But what are some of the issues that may result in the need for AC repair?

• Low refrigerant levels– this means that the system possibly has refrigerant leaks.
• Faulty wiring– with faulty wiring, the system cannot draw power, which may result in circuit breaker tripping,
• Outdoor fan not functioning well – if the fan is not working, it results in improper heat transfer. If the repair is not done as needed, it will damage the compressor.
• Frozen coils – often due to a blocked return air duct of dirty and clogged air filters.

Troubleshooting the Central Air Conditioner

Once you notice that your central AC is not functioning well, you need to call an AC repair technician.

However, if you are a rather hands-on person, you may want to troubleshoot and discover the problem. And, you can perform some AC repairs on your own!

Yes, some air conditioner issues need an HVAC technician to solve them. However, some are simple DIYs you can perform on your own.

We troubleshoot some of the issues below.

My AC condenser is not running.

Generally, if your condenser unit won’t turn on, it is most likely dirty. Also, you may have a clogged condenser or fan.

Also, if the unit does not turn on, chances are you have a faulty motor that is not receiving power.

Additionally, make sure that the unit is plugged in.

The first action to take is to clean the AC condenser unit. 

Contact HVAC Santa Clarita if the problem persists after cleaning. 

Uneven Cooling

One primary reason for uneven cooling is an old HVAC system. If your more than a decade-old AC system is cooling the house unevenly, you need to get an AC replacement. You need to start searching for tips on how to choose central AC unit. 

How about if your AC unit is not old?

Here are some of the other issues that may result in uneven cooling:

• Leaky air ducts: Your duct system needs to be airtight. If the ductwork leaks, it will drop the air pressure in it. This results in the cool air going out and becoming hotter. The only way to solve leaky ductworks is to call for a duct seal or replacement from your local HVAC company.
• Short cycling– another reason you have hot and cool spots in your house is short cycling. This is when the air conditioners run for a shorter period than they should. Typically, an air conditioner runs for approximately 10 minutes. If it keeps running for a shorter period, enough cool air will not get to some parts of the house. There are different reasons short-cycling happens. You will need your local HVAC technician to look into it and fix it. If you do not fix short-cycling immediately, it starts happening; it will increase your electricity bills.
• Clogged air filters – if you have not cleaned or replaced your air filters for a long time, they will clog up. Dirty or clogged AC filters will result in a plethora of issues. Clogged air filters block adequate airflow, resulting in uneven cooling. You may want to try and replace the air filters before calling for professional central AC repair.

Inadequate Cooling

Is air conditioning not producing enough cold air as before?

Chances are high that your thermostat has an issue. Start by ensuring it is appropriately set. The next suspect will be a dirty or blocked air condenser if all this is okay.

Start by checking the outside unit and the areas around it. Ensure that there is no dirt or debris accumulation. Clear all weeds or vegetation that could be affecting proper air circulation.

If the issue persists after this, contact your local HVAC tech for professional troubleshooting.

My Air conditioner is not cooling the house.

Sometimes, the air conditioning system is on but not working.

Of course, this is a cause of alarm, and you need to call for residential AC replacement or immediately.

However, if you would like to troubleshoot and try to fix the issue, here is what the issue could be:

• dirty and clogged air filters,
• dirty or clogged condenser coil,
• the blocked evaporator coil,
• air leaks from the duct system,
• Malfunctioning thermostat or thermostat set too high,
• AC unit too small

You can solve some of these issues, such as dirty air filters. If it is beyond this, professional help would be better.

The AC condenser Unit repeatedly turns on and off. 

This repeated turning on and off is called short cycling. This means the system is turning off prematurely and turning on shortly after. These short cycles often last 5-10 minutes, depending on the problem’s bad.

It would be best if you solved short cycling because it will increase your electricity bills. You do not want to wait till the bills are over the ceiling.

The leading causes of short cycling include:

• malfunctioning compressor,
• dirty coils,
• dirty filters,
• frozen coils,
• low refrigerant levels,

AC won’t turn on

If your air conditioner doesn’t turn on for some reason, you want to ensure the system is well-plugged in.

If your AC unit is well plugged in, then the problem could be one of the following:

• Tripped circuit breaker,
• blown fuse,
• clogged air filters,
• the dirty evaporator coil,
• dirty condenser lines,
• refrigerant leaks,
• the faulty motor, which is often preceded by weird noise from the AC unit,
• faulty wiring,
• thermostat issues which mean it could be broken, outdated or needs batteries.

Ice on Refrigerant lines or water leaking from AC

Frozen air conditioners are nothing uncommon, even in sweltering summers.

People often discover the frozen line or water leaking from the AC after they notice that the AC is not cooling the house well.

The fastest solution for a frozen line is to turn off the AC system and set the thermostat on fan mode. However, this is only a temporary solution, maybe as you wait for a proper diagnosis from an HVAC technician.

The main reason behind frozen refrigerant lines is the too cold evaporator coil(1). This is typical because the system absorbs less heat, forming ice on the lines.

Other reasons behind ice on refrigerant lines include:

• refrigerant leaks from the evaporator coils,
• clogged AC units,
• malfunctioning blower fan,
• blocked AC vents,
• collapsed air ducts.

Can I Repair my Air Conditioner?

Often, homeowners dial their local HVAC service when an issue develops on their AC, furnace or air handler. It is excellent to allow professionals to deal with any issues with your central air system.

However, the issue at hand could sometimes be easy enough for you to solve. If you are a DIY person, you can save money while at it and understand your AC system better.

Some of the issues you can solve include:

• dirty air filters,
• blocked or dirty outdoor AC unit,
• the dirty indoor evaporator coil,
• dirty and bent fins.

However, some AC problems are better left to the professionals. These include:

• refrigerant leaks,
• wrong size AC unit,
• air leakages,
• malfunctioning motors and blower motor,
• collapsed or leaky air ducts.

Note: If you decide to troubleshoot your central AC system, ensure your indoor air handler and outdoor unit are off. This way, you will be protected from any electrical hazards.

Professional Central AC Repair

There are some issues you won’t be able to solve unless you are a professional HVAC technician. This is why we recommend you troubleshoot first before calling us.

However, if you are not a DIY person (many people are not, after all), feel free to contact us for AC repair Santa Clarita. 

Some of our AC repair services include:

• Refrigerant leak
• Drainage problems
• Broken compressor
• Faulty fan or blower
• Frozen AC coil
• Capacitor replacements
• Contact replacements
• Evaporator coil replacement
• Condensation pump repair or replacement
• Drain line blockage
• Circuit board replacement
• Thermal expansion valve (TXV) troubleshooting and replacement

If your AC is giving you issues, chances are over 99% that one of these could be the issues, which we will gladly help you solve.

How Much Does Central AC Repair Cost?

This is one of the main frequently asked questions we receive. And as a homeowner, you sure want to know the cost before calling for the HVAC professional to repair your malfunctioning AC.

Always feel free to contact anytime for free estimates.

However, the repair cost will depend on the issue to give you an overview. Typically, repairs start from $300, going up to $60000. It is probably a huge issue if it is anything over $6000, and you are better off getting an AC replacement.

Here are the types of AC repairs and their probable estimates:

Thermostat repairs: up to $300

• Coil: $200 – $500

• Duct: $300 to $1000

• Blower motor:$300-$1200

• Compressor: $700- $1500

The extensive works such as replacing the ductwork or the outside condensing unit could go higher.

As you can see, the AC repair prices vary widely. This is why you want to consult your local HVAC tech directly for AC repair estimates.

Central AC Repairs Frequently Asked Questions

You do not want your air conditioning malfunctioning at the peak of the cooling season. We answer some frequently asked questions we receive and hope these help you get through performing your DIY AC repairs or having the work professionally done.

Why is my Central AC running but not cooling the house?

One of the main reasons behind this issue is a blocked or clogged condenser coil(2). Start by cleaning the condenser coil. If this does not work, you need to call an HVAC professional for professional repairs.

Other causes could include air leaks from the ductwork. This is better left for HVAC professionals to handle.

How do I fix my central air conditioner?

You can troubleshoot and even fix your central air conditioner yourself. If the system is malfunctioning, start by doing this:

• Checking the air filters: If it has been more than three months without replacing or cleaning them, do it.
• Look at your thermostat settings: The issue is often just a thermostat setting. And, it is likely having it too high. Try lowering it by 5 degrees and see what happens.
• Check the air conditioner circuit breakers and ensure they are not tripping.
• Look at the outside AC unit and ensure it is not clogged in dirt or has no airflow obstruction.

Look at all vents and ensure none is blocked.

Is it worth fixing an AC?

Yes, fixing a malfunctioning AC unit comes with a lot of benefits:

• AC repair will ensure the AC is well-functioning at the peak of the cooling season,
• will save you electricity bills; many issues often result in too much consumption of electricity,
• improved air quality,
• prolonged central AC lifespan.

However, you should not perform any major repairs if the system is over a decade old. If it is an easy fix, go ahead. Anything major, you are better off replacing the entire system. You do not want to spend so much money on a system that won’t be there long.

What is the most common AC Repair?

• Replace Air Filters
• Replace the Thermostat
• Repair The Defrost Control
• Empty The Condensation Drain
• Replace The Condenser Fan
• Replace or Fix Compressor
• Clean The Coils
• Replace Capacitors

What are the common AC problems?

Here are some central AC problems that are a sign that you should call for AC repair:

• AC Running Constantly
• AC Not Turning On
• No Cool Air Flowing
• Hot Air Blowing Out
• Refrigerant or Water Leaking
• Both inside and outside unit making any weird noises such as humming, screeching, buzzing,
• Unit Turning On and Off Repeatedly
• A/C System Freezing
• Air Conditioner Tripping Circuit Breaker Repeatedly

Final Thoughts

We are wrapping it up now. At this point, we know you know when to call for a professional HVAC technician. And we are convinced that you know when you can troubleshoot and try to solve the problem yourself.

If you are a DIY person, trying to fix your central AC system does not harm. However, if it does not work, do not hesitate to call an HVAC technician.

We are always available to perform any central AC repairs and answer your questions concerning your malfunctioning air conditioner. Feel free to reach out to us. 

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Santa Clarita CA 91350

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