Why Your AC Might Stop Working During the First Warm Days of Spring
There’s a universal truth in Chicago. Spring arrives when it wants, and it may or may not stick around tomorrow. Midwest weather is fickle, as proven by the past few months.
In March, Chicagoans saw nightly lows in the 40s and 50s. Suddenly, on March 16 and 17th, the low temperature plummeted back into the teens. With lows of 15ºF again, it felt like winter was back. By the end of the month, highs were in the 80s, with dew points well over 60°F.
April and May also saw many days with temperatures above 80ºF, prompting people to switch from heat to AC. You’re finally cool, but your AC suddenly stops during those first warm days of spring. Right when you need AC the most, it lets you down. How do you keep this from happening?
Common Problems With Outdoor AC Units
Air Blue Heating & Cooling has seen many problems with air conditioners failing to run as spring’s heat arrives. These are the most common issues.
1. Cottonwood Invades Everything
The Eastern cottonwood is native to the Midwest and Chicago, but it’s also frustrating for homeowners. The fluffy cottonwood seeds cover everything as they drift to the ground. When they get into vents and block grilles, they become hazards and blow airflow.
2. Debris Blocks Airflow
It’s not just the cottonwood seeds that blow around. Your outdoor condenser has spent the winter covered in snow and ice. There could be fallen leaves from the fall blocking the vents. Weeds, fallen twigs and branches, and even nests from persistent mice can block airflow.
When an AC system cannot dissipate heat properly, problems arise. The motor works harder, which causes your breaker to trip. Your system’s internal thermal overload switch shuts down your AC. Either way, your AC won’t work until the airflow is optimal.
3. Frozen Coils
Go back to the need to have a clean air filter. It’s important because a dirty filter can cause your evaporator coils to freeze. When your AC system runs, it draws hot air from the rooms into the ducts. That warm air passes over the evaporator coil, where the refrigerant absorbs the heat and carries it outside.
If air filters are dirty, airflow is impeded. When airflow isn’t continuous, the coolant in the coils drops in temperature and forms a layer of ice. Eventually, there’s too much ice for the evaporator coil to do its job. You end up with warm, humid air returning to your rooms.
4. Mice, Insects, and Corrosion
Condensers are designed to keep mice out, but it only takes a dime-sized gap. If a mouse gets in, it can chew on electrical wires, creating both a fire hazard and faulty wiring.
Any unsealed gap can allow moisture in. Humidity adds to the problem. If any electrical components in a service panel are exposed to frequent moisture, the metal components may corrode. Corrosion will keep your electricals from working correctly.
Capacitors and contactors are electrical components most likely to fail. Their role is to provide the fan and compressor with the burst and flow of electricity needed to function. Cold snaps and frigid temperatures can degrade or cause expansion in capacitors, causing damage. Spiders and other insects can keep electrical currents in contact from forming a bridge.
5. Slow Leaks
Coolant in the copper piping carries heat from inside and releases it outside. A tiny pinhole leads to a slow leak. If there’s a lack of coolant, your AC cannot do its job correctly.
Not only will your AC fail to cool the indoor air, but it will also create an environmental hazard. Coolant spills must be handled appropriately.
A Guide to Troubleshooting the Issue
If you call an HVAC technician on the hottest day of the summer, you won’t be the only person calling, so you might have to wait a bit. Before you panic, try troubleshooting the issue.
AC Keeps Running Without Cooling the Air: Your coolant levels may be low. Have an HVAC technician check for leaks. Make sure the thermostat is set to cool, not “Fan Only.” You might also have dirty condenser coils, which can be cleaned by spraying them off with a hose.
Indoor Unit Hums Without Fan Movement: When your indoor unit is humming, but the fan fails to spin, the fan motor may be rusted. It could also be a sign that your start capacitor needs replacing. Turn the unit off and call a Chicago HVAC technician.
Outdoor Unit Isn’t Running: See if a breaker tripped. If that fixes it, great. If not, you might need someone to fix a broken thermostat wire or replace a capacitor.
Weak Warm Airflow: You likely have ice built up on the coils. Switch your unit to “fan only” and let the ice melt. Change your air filter. Once the ice has melted, turn your system on again.
Tips for Getting Your AC Ready for Hot, Humid Weather
Instead of waiting for a busy Chicago HVAC company to have time to come out, take a few steps to prepare your AC system for the cooling and dehumidifying it does all summer.
1. Check Around the Condenser
Go outside and look over your condenser unit. If you covered it for the winter, remove the cover. Look for any small branches that have fallen onto it over the winter. Check that no shrubs, weeds, or plants have grown into the two-foot zone around the unit. This perimeter needs to be kept clear of obstacles for optimal air flow.
2. Clean the Coils
After the long winter, it’s time to clean the coils. Get your garden hose and spray fuzzy cottonwood seeds, dirt, dust, and leaves off the metal grilles. Use a downward stream on a lower setting to avoid flattening the aluminum fins. Built-on grime requires a professional’s expertise to prevent damage.
3. Change Your HEPA Filter
You should change your HVAC filter every few months. Much of this depends on how many people and pets are in your home. It’s best to check your filter once a month and see if it looks dirty. If it does, you’ve waited too long. Change your filter more often.
4. Test It Before You Need It
Instead of waiting until the temperature soars and the humidity is unbearable, test your system. Set the thermostat to cool and set the temperature a few degrees lower than the room temperature.
Run your AC for 15 minutes while listening for any strange noises, such as clunks or squeals. If you’re not feeling cool air by then, if you notice the outdoor fan isn’t spinning, or if your AC shuts down before it’s cooled the room, it’s time to call a professional.
Save Trouble and Hire an HVAC Expert for a Spring Tune-Up
Before you need your AC to beat Chicago’s heat, contact Air Blue Heating & Cooling’s HVAC technicians for a spring tune-up. We have more than 30 years of experience in heating and cooling systems and can give your AC system a cleaning and inspection to make sure it’s ready when you are.
