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Three Possible Causes Of Air Conditioner Failure During Summer

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When you start using your air conditioner more regularly, the added strain means there's a chance of parts failure that could cause your air conditioner to stop working when you need it most. Having your air conditioner inspected and understanding what to look out for can minimize air conditioner downtime and help keep your system working smoothly.

Failing or Damaged Fuses

Generally, fuses are one of the longer-lasting components of your air conditioning system. When they wear out or get damaged, however, they can cause your entire air conditioner to stop working completely until they are replaced. Fuses function in the same way a circuit breaker does because they protect your electrical circuit and valuable components from being damaged during surges or other electrical failures.

Inspecting your fuses before summer is a good way to see if they're in good shape, but you can also give your air conditioner some test runs. If you have fuses that fail repeatedly, there is likely a bigger electrical issue that needs to be addressed by a professional.

Failed Capacitor

Capacitors are responsible for powering components like your fan motor. When a capacitor fails, your air conditioner might still be receiving some power, but either not enough to get started or not enough to keep moving once it has started.

Capacitors are often a little more difficult to test as they are usually inside the compressor unit, but one sign that you might have a capacitor problem is if you hear a humming noise from the compressor while the air conditioner is on, but the fan doesn't move. This implies that power is being received, but not enough to work the motor. During this, air may still come from the registers in your house, but it won't be cool.

Your capacitors will usually be inspected during a routine maintenance check, so it's a good idea to have this done before summer starts.

Clogged Air Filter

When the weather heats up and you're using your air conditioner more often, your air filters will get dirty more quickly, which means they need to be replaced more often. If you're using your air conditioner more regularly but replacing the filter as often as you did when your HVAC system wasn't used as often, your filters could get dirty enough that they inhibit the flow of air into your air conditioning unit. If too much air is blocked from getting past the filter, your air conditioner can start to overheat, which will often cause it to shut down.

Luckily, replacing a filter is one of the easiest things you can do. It can help to have a few spares on hand during summer, both to make replacing them easier and to avoid any potential supply shortages that come from increased demand. 

For more information, contact an air conditioning contractor near you. 


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