Is Your Air Conditioner Condenser Not Working?

An air conditioner condenser is an important part of a home central heating and air split system. Is yours working properly? If not, here are some common problems and the solutions.

My Air Conditioner Condenser Is Not Producing Cold Air

An air conditioner condenser is supposed to help keep you cool. If it's not doing that, it's not worth much. So, what could be the problem?

When you feel a decided lack of cold air coming out of your vents, but the condenser is still running, there are a couple things that might be going on.

The biggest reason could be a lack of refrigerant. An air conditioner condenser and evaporator require refrigerant to move heat out of your house. A condenser coil with a leak and low refrigerant won't do the job. It might keep blowing air, but that air won't be the temperature you need it to be.

My Air Conditioner Condenser Won't Turn On

You turn the setting down on the thermostat, but nothing happens. You go outside, and your air conditioner condenser is sitting there like a brick.

Obviously, this is not good. What could be causing it?

A condenser that won't come on could have a variety of problems, because there are many issues that would prevent activation. The wiring might be wrong, a motor might be faulty, the compressor could have gone bad, or it is completely out of refrigerant. Might even be a problem with the thermostat.

My Air Conditioner Condenser Coil is Frozen

Ice should not build up on an air conditioner condenser. When you find it, this is a big sign that something is wrong. It might be due to dirty coils or it could be a sign of low refrigerant.

My Air Conditioner Condenser is Literally on Fire

Okay, well, this is probably the most severe and immediate problem you can have. And it means something electrical inside the air conditioner condenser got so hot that it burst into flame. Which is bad.

Air Conditioner Condenser Solutions

If you've got no cold air, a condenser that won't turn, a frozen coil, or a condenser that is literally on fire, you need to call a service tech. You should also call the fire department for that last one.

Seriously, call a service technician. Repairing an air conditioner condenser requires specialized tools and training that most people don't have. Most folks can't re-charge a unit with refrigerant, replace a compressor, service the motor, etc. So, call a professional that can.

Air Conditioner Condenser Problem Prevention

The main thing you can do is to change your air filter on the regular. A lot of the aforementioned problems are caused by dirt and debris that build up on the coils or clog the compressor or make trouble somewhere else. You can avoid a lot of problems just by regularly checking and inspecting the air filter.

If you want to go above and beyond, you can also keep your condenser clean of yard debris. When you find grass and twigs and junk in the coils, remove it. Be careful not to bend the fins while doing so. You can even hose these coils off to remove any accumulated dust during a long hot summer.

But, and we insist, leave the tough stuff to the pros.

How Is Your Air Conditioner Condenser Working?

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