Austin Air Conditioning Services

What’s Wrong with My AC?

The only good air conditioner is a working air conditioner. At Daniel’s Plumbing & Air Conditioning, we want to do more than fix your AC; we want to give you the knowledge to know what exactly could be going wrong so that when you do call for AC repair or replacement, you’re not left in the dark about your own appliance.

We’ve laid out some of the most common air conditioning problems we fix, what causes them, and if there’s anything you can do to fix or prevent the issue next time around.

No Cool Air

If your home isn’t cooling off when the AC is running or it takes hours to feel the difference, it could be an issue with the condenser. A condenser is the big unit located outside your home with large fans inside, and it’s one of the most important components of your HVAC system. Typically, if the condenser is broken or needs repair, the unit may be leaking or making odd noises.

How to Address an AC Not Cooling Your Home

Broken or malfunctioning condensers should only be repaired by licensed technicians. The actual problem can range from electrical issues to leaks in the refrigerant line. Because the refrigerant shifts from a gas to a liquid, you may not even be able to find the leak without an electronic leak detector.

Once we find the problem, it’s a matter of fixing the capacitor, replacing faulty belts or relay switches, repairing condenser coils, or doing anything else the AC unit may need.

To prevent your condenser from failing, we recommend routine AC tune-ups at least every year, so we can catch any problems before they cause serious issues.

Leaking AC Unit

If you notice watermarks on your ceiling, it could be from your AC’s condensate drain line. Basically, as your AC works to cool the air in your home, different components naturally build up condensation. There’s a built-in condensate drain line that safely removes this water, but if the line is clogged, broken, or leaking, it can release the water into your home’s attic instead.

However, it can be difficult to tell if the water damage is coming from your AC or from a burst pipe. Luckily, at Daniel’s Plumbing & Air Conditioning, we have trained HVAC and plumbing technicians, so we’ll be able to fix whatever the problem is.

How to Address a Leaking Air Conditioner

Typically, the most common solution is to clear the condensate drain line of any rust, algae, or other build-up. We’ll also clean the drain pan and clean out the lines to allow the condensation to safely drain into your home’s plumbing. There could also be deterioration in the condensate drain line, which would cause it to sweat water. We’ll replace the insulation and let you know if it naturally deteriorated, or if there may be signs of rodents or pests in your attic.

Uneven Cooling

Are some rooms hot and others cool? This may not be an air conditioner issue, but rather a problem with your air duct system. The most obvious sign is if one room feels great while the next room over is hot, stuffy, or not getting any moving air.

Dust, dirt, and debris can build up in your home’s air ducts and air filters, which then blocks the air from flowing into certain rooms. These obstructions also put unnecessary strain on your air conditioner and entire HVAC system as it tries to blow air through the obstruction. Plus, no one wants a randomly hot room in their house.

How to Address Uneven Cooling

Professional cleaning is the easiest way to clear out your air ducts. We scrub down and vacuum out your air ducts to remove blockages, and the removal of dust, dirt, and dander improves the overall air quality in your home. In fact, if you or your family are struggling with allergies or odors in your home, duct cleaning can help prevent your AC from spreading dander and bacteria.

If you’re concerned about the quality of your home’s air, talk to one of our service technicians about indoor air quality testing. We can measure the levels of mold, germs, and more, and help you find the best solution to keep your air clean and pure.