Everyone dreads arriving home on a hot, humid day in Central Florida to an even hotter house and a broken air conditioner.

You might be able to troubleshoot the problem quickly without calling an HVAC technician for emergency AC repair, but you’ll need to find out why your AC has stopped cooling your home.

Here are the top reasons AC units stop producing cool air efficiently and how to fix them:

Your Air Conditioner Tripped the Breaker

A circuit breaker will trip to prevent overheating or an electrical fire, leaving your cooling system without a power supply.

Solution: Go to the electrical panel and reset the breaker to see if your AC turns back on. If the breaker repeatedly trips, you need professional repair.

The Air Filter Is Clogged

Air filters clogged with dust, dirt, and pet dander won’t allow cool air through. They need to be changed at least every three months to ensure optimal airflow.

Solution: If you have a reusable air filter, turn off your AC, remove the filter, clean it with soap and water, and let it dry completely before replacing it.

If you have a disposable filter, replace it with a new one.

There’s a Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant absorbs heat to generate cool air. When there’s a refrigerant leak, your AC can’t produce enough cool air to match the thermostat setting, at least not without driving up your energy bills.  

Solution: Only licensed HVAC technicians can recharge refrigerant, so you must leave this task to an expert. The good news is that this is a quick fix, so you should have a functioning AC in no time.

The Evaporator Coil Is Frozen

Your air conditioner’s evaporator coil can freeze when the air filter is dirty, the refrigerant is low, humidity levels are high, or the coil is damaged.

You’ll know if your evaporator coil is frozen if there’s air ice developing on your AC unit or if your system cycles on and off frequently.

Solution: If you notice any of the signs above, start by thawing your air conditioner:

• Change your thermostat setting from “cool” to “off.”
• Switch the fan to “on” so it will blow warm air.
• Wait an hour or so until your AC is defrosted.
• Set your thermostat to cool and set the fan to auto.

Call an HVAC professional for air conditioning repair if your system freezes again.

The Compressor or Motor Is Broken

When the compressor or motor fails, you might hear growling or clattering noises from your AC unit.

Solution: This is a problem only an HVAC technician can diagnose and fix. Unless your air conditioner is still under warranty, you’ll likely need an AC replacement.

Choose Orlando’s Top Choice for AC Repair & Maintenance

Whether you need quality AC repairs or want to schedule a preventative AC maintenance appointment, contact the experts at United Air Temp in Orlando.

Our team has provided high-quality HVAC services and products since 1931, so you can count on us to diagnose the issue with your AC and repair it promptly.

If you want to prevent future air conditioning malfunctions, we offer annual tune-ups. We’ll help you identify and repair any minor issues to help you reduce the risk of needing major AC repairs or premature replacement.

Schedule AC repairs or maintenance for your Orlando home today by calling (407) 554-9293 or contacting us online.