Has your air conditioner been unused for some time? It’s normal to go through phases of air conditioning use depending on the season, especially in Cape Town. But before you start putting it back into good use, it’s important to have it checked out first. In fact, many run into issues when starting up their aircon after its use has been significantly reduced for some time. Here are several problems you might experience if you aren’t already experiencing them:

1. Water leaks indoors and outdoors
2. Dirty air filter
3. Fan failure 
4. Electrical failure
5. AC refrigerant leak

Most electric appliances require regular maintenance and aircons shouldn’t be left off the list. In fact, regular maintenance and check-ups could help you discover any potential problems on the horizon and could save you a few costly repairs later down the line.

Aircon Water Leaks Indoors And Outdoors

This is one of the most common problems air conditioning owners encounter, and it’s often caused by lack of maintenance and neglect. Luckily, a water leak can be easily fixed with the help of a qualified aircon technician. 

There are a few reasons for water leaks inside, but one common reason is a blockage of algae or fungi in the condensate drain, causing the water to stay in the pipe and as a result, leak into your home. Your condensate pump could also be damaged and may need replacing.

What can you do about it? Indoor water leaks can be easily fixed with the help of an aircon technician, but if the leak is not too bad, you may even be able to fix it yourself. For example, you can unclog the pipe using a wet or dry vacuum. Vinegar is also helpful in removing any fungi or algae buildup.

If you are experiencing a water leak outside of your home, there could be several reasons for this too. On hot days, you may find a leak under the compressor of your air conditioner which could indicate a broken condensate fan, dry air filter, problems with the seal, or it could even be caused by a bad installation.

What can you do about it? First things first, you need to turn off your air conditioner and disconnect the power. The second thing to do is call a professional aircon technician as this is unfortunately not something that can’t be fixed on your own.

A Dirty Air Filter

There’s nothing worse than a dirty air filter, and it can cause a whole host of problems. In some extreme cases, if your aircon filter is blocked for too long, your entire aircon system could shut down! This is because your aircon will be working double the amount and using double the power until it finally packs up – hello high electricity bills!

What can you do about it? Aircon filters need regular cleaning and maintenance, there is no other way around it. This way, you can ensure the air you are breathing is the cleanest air possible.

Fan failure 

If your aircon fan is no longer working, it could be a sign of a frozen evaporator coil. This can happen because of an indoor blower fan malfunction, low refrigerant charge, low outdoor temperatures or other system malfunctions.

What can you do about it? Fan failure or a frozen evaporator coil should only be diagnosed by a technician and you will need to call our friendly Cape Town aircon technicians to come and take a look.

Electrical failure

If you are experiencing an aircon electrical failure, it could be an issue with the wiring, problems with capacitors or an overloading circuit breaker. The wires in your AC system can fray or corrode over time, especially if they are exposed outdoors. 

If on the other hand, there is an issue with the capacitor – the element that is used to start and run the aircon system – it could be a malfunction from age or damage. 

In the case of an overloading circuit breaker that keeps tripping, it could be because the aircon is drawing too much power or the breaker is faulty.

What can you do about it? Wires can be easily replaced, but they will need to be replaced quickly. If it’s the capacitor that is the issue, it will need replacing. Or perhaps the issue lies with an overloading circuit breaker which will also need to be checked by one of our technicians.

AC refrigerant leak

Your AC refrigerant is what helps to cool your home and is one of the most important parts of your air conditioning system. If you are experiencing a leak in the AC refrigerant, this can be extremely harmful and will require immediate attention.

What can you do about it? If the leak is small, you may only need to top-up the refrigerant but if there are larger leaks in pipes, you may need to replace the whole system. It is best to call out a technician who will detect the leak, analyse and patch it up in such a way as to avoid future problems.

Looking for aircon experts in Cape Town?

If you are still struggling with one of the many problems listed above, you can give one of our technicians a call and they will come out to assess your air conditioning. Remember, regular maintenance and check-ups could help you discover any potential problems on the horizon and could save you a few costly repairs later down the line.