One thing that can cause grief for homeowners is the failure of their air conditioning unit. There is usually scant warning, and invariably the unit will fail when temperatures are at their summertime peak. Living in a climate that subjects you to triple digit temperatures, like the Sacramento Valley, can easily lead to you and your family’s discomfort if the air conditioning system doesn’t work properly. Repairs can run in the hundreds of dollars. Identifying the problem and performing preventive maintenance can be much less costly.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to identify what the cause of a malfunctioning A/C unit might be. In most cases, improper maintenance or a lack of service is the root of the problem. However, this is not always the case. The best way to avoid most problems is to do preventative maintenance.

There are many reasons that an A/C unit will stop operating properly, or simply break down. You may need the assistance of a trained heating and air technician to diagnose and fix the problem. Listed below are four of the most common reasons for a malfunction:

Faulty wiring – this can result from improper, haphazard, or un-certified work when the wiring is initially installed. Not only can this facilitate malfunctions in your air conditioning unit, it is extremely dangerous and could eventually jeopardize you and your family’s safety.

Frozen coils – one of the common issues with a malfunctioning A/C unit involves Freezing of the coils. ‘Freezing’ can happen if the filter gets too dirty or the refrigerant level is low. Monitoring these two items will help you avoid untimely breakdowns. These preventative measures require some heating and air system knowledge. If you are not confident you can change the filter or bring the refrigerant up to its proper level, call a service and repair technician.

Low Freon level – a low Freon level may indicate that the A/C system is leaking refrigerant. This often results in the need to recharge the unit. Once again, call a professional if you are not familiar with a certain procedure. It will save time and money, as well as ensure your comfort during the hot weather.

Outside fan malfunction – the fan has one responsibility and that is to transfer warm air from your home’s interior to the outside. If it is not operating properly, or there is inefficient heat transfer (or none at all), your home will not cool down and be comfortable. The unit may overheat as well, which can eventually damage the compressor.

Heating and Air companies specialize in HVAC system tune-ups as well as replacement. Regular tune-ups are the best way to prevent unit malfunctions.

Visit the Bell Brothers blog periodically for more tips and information about keeping your home cool during the summer. You will also find helpful energy saving tips on our blog.