Central Air Conditioner Troubleshooting

The central air conditioners are of two types, viz. split-system and packaged air conditioners. The split-system air conditioners have two systems, one is an outdoor system and the other is an indoor system. The outdoor unit of the split system encases the condenser and the compressor. On the other hand, the indoor unit has the evaporator.

In case of the packaged central air conditioners, there is an outdoor cabinet that has the air compressor, condenser, and the evaporator. Usually, the split air conditioners are commonly used home air conditioners and the packaged air conditioners are used in small commercial buildings.

Central air conditioning is a necessary home appliance if you have a furnace. The split central air conditioning is a better option for this situation. Here are some guidelines for central air conditioner troubleshooting:

The first step is to check whether the thermostat has fresh batteries. Some of the best programmable thermostats give a low-battery indication. It is advisable to check the batteries of the thermostat before moving further.

The availability of power must be checked by turning ON the fan of the air conditioner. If the fan is not running, it means that air conditioner is not powered.

The miniature circuit breakers (MCB) and fuses in it must be checked. If the problem is with the fuse or MCB, it must be fixed. Otherwise, the condenser needs to be checked. For this, checking the compressor and motor is necessary.

For checking the condenser, the selector switch must be on 'cool' mode and the fan on the 'auto' mode'. The condenser can be reset using a button near the refrigerant lines. If the air conditioner does not work even after resetting the condenser, it should be replaced. You need to take professional assistance to replace the condenser.

There are two copper lines running besides the condenser. These copper lines should be at a cool temperature if there is no problem with the freon charge that runs through these pipes. If these lines are warm, it indicates that the air conditioner is out of freon charge.

As against this, if the lines are frozen it maybe due to the clogging of the filter or because some object is obstructing the return duct. A dirty evaporator may also cause the air conditioner unit to stop cooling the air.

Condensate pumps of a split-air conditioner or a packaged system are usually placed outdoors. The air conditioner can stall due to unplugged condensate pump. Sometimes, a faulty condensate pump can cause the system to stop working. If there is water collected around the pump, professional service must be called for so that the problem can be fixed.

The condenser coil and fins must be cleaned at regular intervals. The evaporator in the air conditioning system must be cleaned from time to time to ensure smooth working of the system.

Lastly, if the central air conditioner does not meet the cooling requirements, its capacity must be increased accordingly. In case you're not able to troubleshoot it, it is recommended to call a professional installer to fix the problem. The professional installer may ask you to replace the air conditioner if it cannot be repaired.