Air Conditioning Troubleshooting: 9 Common

Problems & Solutions

Michael C. Rosone • April 25, 2017

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Before you know it, those living in the residential building you manage will be cranking up
their air conditioning systems. It goes without saying that you’ll want to start off the warmer
weather months in a comfortable zone, which for you and the residents means as complaint-
free as possible. A preemptive air conditioning troubleshooting mission and appropriate
residential air conditioning maintenance can aid you in your goal of smoothly operating air
conditioning systems and happy residents. Let’s take a look at the most common air
conditioning problems.

Air conditioning trouble shooting: The usual suspects

When warm weather hits and the heat is on, the last thing you want is for your air
conditioning to be off. It’s essential to maintain steady comfort in your building to keep
your residents content. Here are some of the most prevalent problems that you can avoid by
following common sense operational procedures and with routine residential air
conditioning maintenance.

1. THE AC WON’T TURN ON

At the top of your list of fears when you initiate your air conditioning troubleshooting
review might be that you’ll turn on the system and hear nothing and feel nothing. The lack
of power could be something as simple as a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker, which
means you’ll have to reset the circuit breaker or replace a blown use. It also could be the
result of broken or loose wiring or thermostat problems.

Read this related article to learn more: Tips for Troubleshooting AC Electrical Problems
2. THERMOSTAT GLITCHES
If your thermostat is not working or if it is incorrectly calibrated, it may not tell the air
conditioner to turn on. If you have set your thermostat to the lowest temperature setting and
the system still does not start, it’s probably time to call your HVAC repair technician, who
will likely have to recalibrate or replace the thermostat. The older, dial-type thermostats are
more often subject to calibration problems, but sometimes the newer programmable
thermostats are not easy to program. When doing air conditioning troubleshooting, you
should consult your thermostat manual to make sure you have programmed your thermostat
properly.

3. AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS ARE NOT COOL – LOW REFRIGERANT

EQUALS LOW EFFICIENCY
While air conditioning troubleshooting uncovers an under-performing unit, that can be the
result of low refrigerant. If the refrigerant level is low, it usually means it was either
undercharged at installation or it has a leak. If you notice your building is not cooling
properly or the air is somewhat sticky, a low refrigerant level could be the culprit. Without
the right refrigerant level, heat and humidity cannot efficiently be removed from the air. The
refrigerant is the lifeblood of your air conditioning unit and is akin to the motor oil in your
vehicle.

Although your AC technician might discover a leak during the air conditioning
troubleshooting process, unfortunately it’s not usually a matter of just topping off the
refrigerant. When a vehicle frequently needs oil, it’s usually a sign of a bigger problem.
Likewise, with an air conditioner system, low refrigerant is often the sign of a leak and you
will need a qualified HVAC experts to fix it. If multiple leaks are detected, it’s possible that
you may need to replace the unit.

4. CONDENSER PROBLEMS WILL HEAT THINGS UP

When drawing up an air conditioning troubleshooting plan, don’t forget to look at the
condenser coil. The condenser has an important job to do. It is responsible for discharging
the heat removed from the air by releasing it outside of the building. The condenser coil is
part of your outdoor unit, which means it’s exposed to dirt, soot and assorted pollutants that
make it grimy. If the coils are dirty, it will interfere with the transfer of heat and make your
unit worker harder and add to the wear and tear on your system.

5. IT’S GETTING HOT IN HERE – IRONICALLY COULD MEAN A FROZEN

EVAPORATOR COIL
While embarking on your air conditioning troubleshooting mission, you should consider that
your evaporator coil is the reason for warmer temperatures than you would like. This coil
contains refrigerant that absorbs heat. When airflow is diminished, a layer of ice can form
on the evaporator coil. If this occurs, you could end up with warm air or no air from your air
conditioner supply registers. The restricted airflow could be the result of dirty air filters,
low refrigerant or obstructed return air in your ductwork, which brings us to our next
problem to look at when you’re conducting your air conditioning troubleshooting project.
6. LEAKING OR DIRTY DUCTS
If you’re experiencing warmer air than you’d like or if some rooms are cool and some are
warm, it could mean an improper flow of air through your ducts. Though a central air
conditioning system is seemingly a sealed system with the ductwork running through walls
and ceilings, it is not unusual for tears to develop in your ductwork, sometimes as the result
of rodents or inattentive workers.

The air ducts carry the return air to your system for treatment and cooling. If there’s a rip in
the ducts, the cool air will escape inside your walls, which is not beneficial to your
residents’ comfort or wallet. Leaky air ducts can make the entire home warmer, which will
make your system work harder and increase your electric bills. So put “duct inspection” on
your air conditioning troubleshooting checklist.

Read this related article to learn more: Duct cleaning services: Why, when & how?

7. DRAINAGE DIFFICULTIES
Where does the moisture removed by your air conditioner go? It is designed to be removed
from your space through a drain line into a pan and then is funneled into a drain. If the drain
is clogged and the pan overflows, the water will back up and damage your system. The
backup can cause water leaks that can damage your building and its contents. You do not
want to overlook the drainage lines when exploring air conditioning troubleshooting tactics.

8. NOT A FAN OF A NOISY SYSTEM?

Your system comes complete with a fan that blows indoor air over its evaporator coil to cool
the air and a condenser coil fan that blows air over the condenser to transport the heat from
the building to outside. A prevalent source of noise is the fan motors, which could be
plagued by dirt and debris, worn belts or deteriorating bearings. If noise is detected when
completing your air conditioning troubleshooting activities, it’s best to shut off your unit
and call in an HVAC professional to avoid further damage.

Related article: Get to the Bottom of Air Conditioning Noise

9. A WINDOW OF INOPPORTUNITY
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, one of the top air conditioning problems is
improper operation and heading the list under that category is open windows and outside
doors. Makes sense doesn’t it? We probably all have memories of parents telling us to shut
the windows when the air conditioner was on in our home or car. So one of the easiest and
most inexpensive problems to fix on our air conditioning troubleshooting mission is to make
sure windows or doors are closed; otherwise you are undermining your air conditioner’s
efficiency.

Air conditioning troubleshooting: More helpful hints to avoid

problems
 Clear brush and debris from outside unit and surrounding area
  Replace dirty filters

 Check ducts for tears and have them repaired

 Install a programmable thermostat, which saves energy and is more accurate, but

learn how to use it properly

As you can see, there are problems than can be prevented by conducting an air conditioning
troubleshooting exercise. If there is one takeaway from a discussion on air conditioning
troubleshooting, it should be that proper maintenance is the best was to avoid problems and
prevent headaches for you and those who live in your residential complex.

Though air conditioning troubleshooting can be an asset to the smooth operation of your
system, the top air conditioning problems can be stopped before they start with a routine
maintenance plan.

Air Conditioner Troubleshooting

Technicians usually have air conditioner troubleshooting guide in them

after having gone through different kinds of problem in the field.
Central air conditioning system usually have electronic control system
that indicate the type of error or failure in the system.

Electronic controls are becoming more sophisticated and greatly help

in troubleshooting of big system. There are electronic systems that can
be remotely controlled or monitored and they are usually installed in
mission critical type of environment.
Some of the possible causes of failure in the system are listed in the
air conditioner troubleshooting guide below.

No Cooling Effect
Suction Frost
Low Pressure Switch Cuts-Off
High Pressure Switch Cuts-Off
High Pressure Side Too High
High Pressure Side Too Low
Low Pressure Side Too High
Low Pressure Side Too Low
Both Low Pressure and High Pressure Too High
Both Low Pressure and High Pressure Too Low
High Pressure Too Low and Low Pressure Too High

No Cooling Effect Air Conditioner Troubleshooting

 Refrigerant is undercharged
 Air conditioner unit is under capacity
 Compressor valve damage or ineffective compression
 Too much opening or inadequate opening of thermo valve
 Ineffective contact of sensor bulb of thermo valve
 Expansion valve not effective
 Filter drier or strainer is clogged
 Air filter is clogged
 Evaporator coil is dirty
 Fan coil motor is rotating in the reverse direction
 Fan motor belt loose or slip
 Temperature setting of thermostat too high
 Expansion valve oversized or undersized
 R.P.M of fan coil blower too low
 Duct damper is closed
 Duct resistance too high
 Supply air short-circuit
Suction Frost Air Conditioner Troubleshooting

 Air conditioner unit is over capacity

 Air filter is clogged
 Room temperature is too low
 Evaporator coil is dirty
 Fan coil motor is rotating in the reverse direction
 Fan motor belt loose or slip
 Temperature setting of thermostat too low
 R.P.M of fan coil blower too low
 Duct damper is closed
 Duct resistance too high
 Supply air short-circuit
 Ambient temperature too low

Low Pressure Switch Cuts-Off Air Conditioner Troubleshooting

 Fan coil motor is rotating in the reverse direction

 Fan motor belt loose or slip
 Temperature setting of thermostat too low
 R.P.M of fan coil blower too low
 Duct damper is closed
 Duct resistance too high
 Supply air short-circuit
 Ambient temperature too low
 Expansion valve undersized
 Low pressure switch is not working
 Refrigerant undercharge
 Air conditioner unit is over capacity
 Expansion valve clogged
 Ineffective expansion valve
 Air filter is clogged
 Room temperature is too low
 Evaporator coil is dirty

High Pressure Switch Cuts-Off

 Overcharge of refrigerant
 Air inside refrigerant circuit
  Condenser water flow too little
 Condenser inlet water temperature too high
 Condenser is dirty
 Air in condenser water flow
 Refrigerant discharge valve blocked or closed
 Condenser water circulating in the reverse direction
 Condenser coil is very dirty
 Condenser fan motor is not running
 Condenser fan motor is rotating in the reverse direction
 Poor air circulation of the condenser or air circulation blocked
 High pressure switch not functioning
 Condenser water pump malfunction
 Cooling tower fan not running
 Condenser water valves closed
 Cooling tower fan rotates in the reverse direction

High Pressure Side Too High

 Overcharge of refrigerant
 Air inside refrigerant circuit
 Condenser water flow too little
 Condenser inlet water temperature too high
 Condenser is dirty
 Air in condenser water flow
 Refrigerant discharge valve blocked or closed
 Air conditioner unit is under capacity
 Condenser water circulating in the reverse direction
 Condenser coil is very dirty
 Condenser fan motor is not running
 Condenser fan motor is rotating in the reverse direction
 Poor air circulation of the condenser or air circulation blocked
 Condenser water pump malfunction
 Cooling tower fan not running
 Condenser water valves closed
 Cooling tower fan rotates in the reverse direction

High Pressure Side Too Low

 Refrigerant is undercharged
  Excessive condenser water flow
 Condenser outlet water temperature too low
 Air conditioner unit is over capacity
 Ineffective compression of compresor or valve is damaged
 Ambient temperature too low

Low Pressure Side Too High

 Refrigerant is overcharged
 Expansion valve is oversized
 Air conditioner unit is under capacity
 Excessive opening of thermo valve
 Ineffective compression of compresor or valve is damaged
 Ineffective contact of sensor bulb of thermo valve

Low Pressure Side Too Low

 Fan coil motor is rotating in the reverse direction

 Fan motor belt loose or slip
 Temperature setting of thermostat too low
 R.P.M of fan coil blower too low
 Duct damper is closed
 Duct resistance too high
 Supply air short-circuit
 Expansion valve undersized
 Refrigerant is undercharged
 Air conditioner unit is over capacity
 Not enough opening of thermo valve
 Expansion valve clogged
 Ineffective expansion valve
 Air filter is clogged
 Room temperature is too low
 Evaporator coil is dirty

Both Low Pressure and High Pressure Too High

 Condenser coil is very dirty

 Condenser fan motor is not running
 Condenser fan motor is rotating in the reverse direction
  Poor air circulation of the condenser or air circulation blocked
 Condenser water pump malfunction
 Cooling tower fan not running
 Condenser water valves closed
 Cooling tower fan rotates in the reverse direction
 Overcharge of refrigerant
 Air inside refrigerant circuit
 Condenser water flow too little
 Condenser inlet water temperature too high
 Condenser is dirty
 Air in condenser water flow
 Air conditioner unit is under capacity
 Excessive opening of thermo valve
 Ineffective contact of sensor bulb of thermo valve
 Condenser water is circulating in the reverse direction

Both Low Pressure and High Pressure Too Low

 Fan coil motor is rotating in the reverse direction

 Fan motor belt loose or slip
 Temperature setting of thermostat too low
 R.P.M of fan coil blower too low
 Duct damper is closed
 Duct resistance too high
 Supply air short-circuit
 Expansion valve undersized
 Refrigerant is undercharged
 Air conditioner unit is over capacity
 Not enough opening of thermo valve
 Expansion valve clogged
 Ineffective expansion valve
 Air filter is clogged
 Room temperature is too low
 Evaporator coil is dirty
 Ambient temperature too low
 Excessive condenser water flow
 Condenser outlet water temperature too low
 Filter drier or strainer is clogged
 The air conditioner does not cool or heat the room well.
Please check the following before calling for servicing.
  Is the temperature and the operation mode properly set by the remote controller?
 Are air quantity and direction properly controlled?
 Are air filters clean?
 Are areas directly below or next to the air conditioner blocked by furniture or other
objects?
 Are windows and doors closed?
 Has the ventilation fan stopped?
Did this solve your problem? If not, please contact your nearest Daikin representative.