Summer is the time of year when air conditioners are most likely to develop all kinds of issues, and no wonder. All the added strain from operating for hours each and every day for months at a time is bound to cause issues to crop up every now and then. Preventive maintenance is a great way to prevent issues from occurring as frequently in your air conditioner, so hopefully thatbs something that youbve already scheduled for the year.
If not, you should have that done as soon as possible. Even if you have, though, you need to keep an eye out for any signs that your system is malfunctioning. The following are just three of the many common air conditioning problems that can make your life harder this summer.

Short Cycling

Short cycling is what happens when your air conditioner turns itself off before it completes a full cooling cycle. Often caused by some sort of electrical problem, this can manifest as the system turning itself on and off every couple of minutes. While this may seem like just an odd quirk, itbs actually incredibly harmful to the system. It prevents the air conditioner from cooling as well as it should, but it also increases the amount of wear and tear the system accumulates over time. Short cycling shortens the lifespan of the air conditioner, and makes it much more likely for it to develop problems on a regular basis.

Refrigerant Leaks

Your air conditioner needs refrigerant in order to work. Itbs the refrigerant in the system that makes it possible for the air conditioner to siphon heat from inside the home and release it outside. The air conditioner uses the same charge of refrigerant throughout its life, and should never need a refill except in the case of leaks. As the refrigerant level in the air conditioner drops due to a leak, the system will be less and less able to properly cool the home. Eventually, the air conditioner will break down entirely due to not having enough refrigerant. Make sure that you call for repairs if you notice fluid dripping from your air conditioner, especially if itbs accompanied by a drop in cooling ability.

Frozen Coils

It may seem like a good sign to have your air conditioner a little icy during a hot summer day. That means itbs working well, right? Not so much, no. Air conditioner coils tend to ice over when there isnbt enough air getting to them, which could mean a number of different problems. You might just have a clogged air filter, which is pretty easy to fix if you know what youbre doing. You may also have a malfunctioning air handler, which is not so easy to fix. Youbll need a technician to take a look at your system to find out which it is.

Comfort Central, Inc. provides a full range of air conditioning repair services in Asheville, NC. If you need air conditioning repairs, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our expert technicians. B