Many homeowners turn to the internet for answers about their air conditioning systems, but truthfully, asking, “Why did my air conditioner fail?” is much to vague of a question. There are literally hundreds of problems you could be having. True, some are much more common than others, but more likely than not you are going to need the help of a service technician if there is going to be any hope of restoring comfort to your home. However, understanding a little more about the different categories of problems may make the whole repair process easier.
Types of Air Conditioner Problems:
- Physical Damage: Physical air conditioner damage can be caused by anything from a runaway lawnmower to a basement flood. We have seem many air conditioners and furnaces destroyed by simple mistakes and by unpredictable weather. Often times these repairs are extensive and other times the unit cannot be salvaged at all.
- Lack of Maintenance Damage: The vast majority of air conditioner problems are caused by lack of maintenance. Many homeowners will go years and years without maintenance, and by the time the unit breaks down, it has several problems. Parts begin to rust, debris buildup decreases efficiency, and even mold can begin to grow within the system. A simply and inexpensive yearly cleaning is all that is needed to keep the unit in good shape.
- Improper Sizing Damage: Many homeowners have air conditioners running in their homes that are not the correct size for their needs. Some contractors like to up-sell their customers by placing too large of systems in the home. In a matter of years the unit will burn itself out due to lack of airflow. On the other hand, some homeowners will go with an air conditioner that is just too small. Whether by accident or as an effort to save a few bucks, their mistake will cost them big time when the unit prematurely fails. Undersized systems cannot keep up wit the temperature requirements for the home and become overworked very easily.
- Years and Years of Operation: The best type of air conditioner failure to have is one that is due to old age. In this scenario, the air conditioner has run for many summers and has only broken down after years of loyal operation. Fixing broken parts on a unit this old would be a waste of your money. Invest instead in a new system and put your money to good use.
