What Can Cause an Air Conditioner to Stop Working?

Panic Stations! Why Isn’t the AC Working?

Nobody wants to face the daunting challenge of getting through the summer without a working air conditioner. In hotter climates, it can be potentially dangerous to go without an air conditioning unit — and in all honesty, no fun either. Considering this, it can be concerning when your AC suddenly decides to stop cooling the air inside your home. However, you don’t have to stress as we outline what can cause an air conditioner to stop working, so you can get it up and running again. So what can cause an air conditioner to stop working? We’ll explore this question below.

H2 Mechanical Issues on Your AC 

Broken or ineffective parts are one of the biggest sets of issues that will cause an air conditioner to stop working. Any of the following parts can be the issue with your AC:

•  Expansion Valve
• Cooling/Condensing Coils
• Compressor
• Ducts

A faulty expansion valve will cause your AC to stop working as it regulates how much refrigerant is moving between the two coils, therefore affecting how effective your unit is at cooling your home. However, these issues may also be caused by a damaged compressor as the part will not be able to circulate refrigerant between the indoor and outdoor units.

Similarly, the effectiveness of the air flow your air conditioner is producing may be affected by either the cooling or condensing coil. Freezing or dirt build-up will prevent the coils from working correctly and impede the transfer of warm or cool air.
 

Lastly, if the ducts connecting various parts of your AC together are damaged, then the transfer of hot and cold air will be disrupted.
 

Any one of these issues can be what can cause an air conditioner to stop working and can often be costly to fix. However, when mechanical parts are involved, it’s best to call a professional to fix your unit.

Depleted Refrigerant 

Another technical issue that can cause problems with your air conditioner is the depletion of refrigerant. The refrigerant is a vital component for ensuring your AC unit is still working. Furthermore, the amount of refrigerant in your machine must match the exact specifications of the manufacturer, making it a specialist job for a technician.

Clogged Air Filters and Obstructed Units 

Common problems that can easily be fixed without professional help are clogged air filters and unit obstructions outside. Keeping filters relatively clean should prevent having to replace them. However, if it has gotten to the point where your filter is extremely clogged, then you will need to get it replaced. These are easy enough to remove yourself, meaning you can save a bit of money.

If you have been a bit lax with landscaping in your backyard, then this can cause problems for your AC. If there’s overgrown foliage around your air conditioner, then the air flow can be obstructed, meaning the unit cannot circulate air as effectively.

Thermostat Issues 

The last common problem that plagues air conditioning units is incorrectly calibrated thermostats. This fault means that the AC is not receiving instructions correctly and therefore is not able to accurately cool the room to the temperature you desire.

As with the clogged air filters and obstructed units fixing thermostat issues tends to be very simple. If you have the option, then recalibrating your thermostat should be easy and the instructions to do so can be found in the manual that came with your machine. Or, you can get the thermostat replaced if it’s too old.