Desmond Heating & Cooling Solutions

6 Easy Ways To Troubleshoot Your Air Conditioning System

Written by Desmond Heating & Cooling SolutionsApril 27, 2022

As a homeowner, you can easily troubleshoot your air conditioning system and resolve the problem. However, there will be times when you will require professional air conditioner service from your local HVAC dealer.

Troubleshoot Your Air Conditioning System

From very simple issues like an incorrectly set thermostat or a dirty filter to more complex situations requiring component replacement. Things you should look into before calling a professional.

 

Troubleshoot your air conditioning system

  1. The Thermostat Has Been Set Inaccurately

When you notice your home becoming a little hotter than usual, check the thermostat settings first. Check that it is set to cool. If the thermostat is set to cool, double-check the temperature setting to ensure it hasn’t been changed. If it is turned off, set to heat, or set to the constant fan, return it to cooling mode. Wait a few minutes after the system comes on before checking for cold air blowing from the registers.

This is one easy way to troubleshoot your air conditioning system.

  1. Air Filter 

An air filter in or near the indoor air handler unit may be part of your air conditioning system. A clogged air filter can obstruct airflow and reduce cooling in your home. In more severe cases, it can cause the system to completely shut down.
If your thermostat is working properly but you still don’t have cool air, look for your system’s air filter, turn it off, remove the filter, and inspect.

This is one easy way to troubleshoot your air conditioning system.

  1. The Condenser Unit Is Broken

Your central air conditioning system, as previously stated, most likely includes an outdoor condenser unit. The condenser unit’s exterior features a large outdoor coil that wraps most of the way around the unit.

If your air conditioner is running but not lowering indoor temperatures, one possible cause is a clogged or blocked condenser coil.

When working properly, the condenser fan draws air into the outdoor unit via the condenser coil, extracting heat energy from your home. A dirty coil can result in decreased energy efficiency, a lack of cool air from the registers, or, in extreme cases, a complete system shutdown or compressor damage from overuse.

This is one easy way to troubleshoot your air conditioning system.

  1. Broken Heat Pump

Your outdoor unit could be a heat pump in some cases. A heat pump resembles an air conditioner, but it contains additional components that allow it to both cool and heat your home. It functions similarly to an air conditioner when cooling and is prone to the same problems. Check the thermostat settings, the air filter, and the condenser unit for previously described issues if your heat pump system isn’t cooling.

This is one easy way to troubleshoot your air conditioning system.

  1. The Evaporator Coil Has Frozen 

Your central air conditioning system’s indoor component will include an evaporator coil. If your indoor unit is a furnace, the evaporator coil is located outside the furnace in its cabinet. If the indoor unit is a fan coil, the evaporator coil is housed within the fan coil cabinet. The evaporator coil circulates warm indoor air. Learn More About Air Conditioning Repair
The following are symptoms of a frozen evaporator coil:

  • Frost forming on copper refrigerant tubing exiting the coil cabinet
  • Inadequate cooling
  • Higher utility bills
  • Excessive condensate drainage in the vicinity of your indoor unit
  • Frost forming on exterior refrigerant tubing or the outdoor unit in extreme cases

 

  1. Refrigerant Leak

A refrigerant is a chemical that is necessary for cooling. It circulates through the system’s indoor and outdoor coils, changing from liquid to gaseous state, drawing heat energy and humidity from the indoor air and releasing it outside.

A refrigerant leak, depending on its severity, can contribute to your AC system not blowing cold air, cause your system to run for longer periods without adequately cooling your home, or cause a damaged or failed compressor and complete system shutdown.

This is one easy way to troubleshoot your air conditioning system.

 GET IN TOUCH WITH A HVAC DEALER

If you’ve exhausted all of the mentioned options, then it is time to contact an HVAC dealer. It’s important not only for your comfort but also for your air conditioner. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, contact your local HVAC technician.
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HVAC System

Indoor HVAC System: Simple Terms For Everyday Use

Written by Desmond Heating & Cooling SolutionsApril 27, 2022

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is intended to meet the environmental requirements of occupant comfort.

HVAC systems are increasingly used in a variety of buildings, including industrial, commercial, residential, and institutional structures. HVAC systems provide thermal comfort to building occupants by adjusting and changing outdoor air conditions to the desired conditions.

Depending on the weather, outdoor air is drawn into buildings and heated or cooled before being distributed into occupied spaces, after which it is exhausted to the outside air or reused in the system. The climate, the age of the building, the individual preferences of the building’s owner and a project designer, the project budget, and the architectural design of the buildings will all influence the selection of HVAC systems in a given building.

HVAC System

Classification Of HVAC Systems

HVAC systems can be classified based on the processes required and the distribution process. The required processes include the heating, cooling, and ventilation processes. Other processes can be added such as humidification and dehumidification process.

Heating systems, air-conditioning systems, ventilation fans, and dehumidifiers are examples of HVAC equipment that can be used to accomplish these processes. HVAC systems rely on the distribution system to deliver the necessary amount of air while maintaining the desired environmental conditions. The distribution system varies primarily based on the refrigerant type and the method of delivery, such as air handling equipment, fan coils, air ducts, and water pipes.

Selection of HVAC system

The selection of a system is influenced by three major factors: the building configuration, the climate conditions, and the owner’s desire. The design engineer is in charge of considering various systems and recommending multiple systems to meet the goal and satisfy the building’s owner. Climate change (e.g., temperature, humidity, and space pressure), building capacity, spatial requirements, cost (capital cost, operating cost, and maintenance cost), life cycle analysis, and reliability and flexibility are some criteria that can be considered.

However, there are some constraints that must be determined when selecting a system. These constraints include standard capacity, building configuration, available space, construction budget, available utility source, and heating and cooling building loads.

The fundamental components of an HVAC system

The following are the basic components or equipment of an HVAC system that delivers conditioned air to satisfy the thermal comfort of occupants and to achieve indoor air quality:

  • Plenum with mixed air and outdoor air control
  • Air purifier
  • Exhaust or relief fans, as well as an air outlet
  • Air intake from the outside
  • Ducts
  • Terminal equipment
  • System of return air
  • Coils for heating and cooling
  • Heating or cooling system that is self-contained
  • The cooling tower
  • Boiler
  • Control
  • chiller for water
  • Equipment for humidification and dehumidification

 HVAC System Classification

HVAC systems are divided into two types:

  • Central systems
  • Decentralized or local systems

The type of system depends on whether the primary equipment location is centralized, such as conditioning the entire building as a whole unit or decentralized, such as conditioning a specific zone as part of a building separately. As a result, the air and water distribution system should be designed based on system classification and primary equipment location. The above-mentioned criteria should also be used when deciding between two systems.

Central HVAC systems can serve multiple or single zones and can be located away from the building, eliminating the need for distribution devices. They are further divided into all-air HVAC systems, air-water systems, water-source heat pumps, and heating and cooling panel systems. Local HVAC systems are typically located inside or adjacent to living spaces and serve a single zone. Local heating systems, local air conditioning systems, local ventilation systems, and split systems are among them.

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IN SUMMARY
It is important to be knowledgeable about your HVAC system even before getting a dealer for installation. Being properly informed will assist you in making the right decision regarding the type of HVAC you need and what is appropriate for your space.
Contact a professional HVAC technician.

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