You may be experiencing a number of issues if your AC unit is constantly running. You may have an issue with the fan motor of your AC unit, or you may have a bad condenser. You may also have low refrigerant in your system. In addition, you may have an AC unit that isn’t powerful enough to cool your whole home, or your home may be too poorly insulated to hold in the cold air that your cooling system produces. Your AC unit shouldn’t run constantly, or it may cause the evaporator coil to freeze over, which will further damage your unit. If you’ve noticed that your AC unit isn’t operating as it should, then you should reach out to us to take a look — we’ll let you know about the best solution for your circumstances.

If you have the right AC unit size, your unit should run about 15 minutes at a time, and it may run two or three times per hour, even on the hottest days of the year. If your AC unit is running more often than that, you may have an issue that is affecting the efficiency of your cooling system. If your AC unit is running less than that, yet your home still isn’t getting enough cool air, then it’s likely that you have a problem with your thermostat.

AC units are rather demanding as far as electricity goes. As such, they’re liable to trip your breaker while they run. If you’ve noticed that your AC unit doesn’t work, and the breaker has tripped, then you should shut down your AC unit at the thermostat (switch the thermostat to “Off”). Then, you can switch the breaker. Wait 30 minutes as the system resets. Then turn your thermostat back to its previous setting, and make sure that you hear your AC unit turn on.

Your AC unit relies on an evaporator coil to cool the air that is pumped through your home. As the refrigerant evaporates, it absorbs heat, which cools the coil and the air around it. This air is then ready to be pumped throughout your vents.

If your evaporator coil freezes over, then you should not use your AC unit until it is defrosted. Be sure to turn off your unit — you can turn your thermostat to “Off” for the time being. Thawing the coil may take up to a day. You may have to keep an eye on water buildup in the drip pan, since it can overflow. Once it has thawed completely, you can turn your system on again.

Most AC units last between 10 and 15 years. That said, proper maintenance may prolong the service life of your AC unit. Repair problems promptly, and consider regular maintenance to keep your AC unit running smoothly.

We offer maintenance plans for both heating and cooling systems. During summer months, we can stop by to ensure that your AC unit is running smoothly. With each maintenance call, we’ll perform all of the following checks, tests, and services:

1. Inspection of the evaporator coil
2. Drainage inspection
3. Blower inspection, adjustment, and cleaning
4. Condenser coil inspection and cleaning
5. Lubrication of the motor and other moving parts
6. Checking electrical components and wiring
7. Checking refrigerant pressure and level
8. Voltage monitoring for the AC motor
9. Testing the AC cycle for signs of inconsistency
10. Providing recommendations for necessary repairs or upgrades

While your AC unit will make some noise, it shouldn’t be too loud. You’ll hear the fan turn on when your AC unit is triggered, and the compressor will make some noise. However, you should be wary of banging, buzzing, hissing, clicking, and screeching noises — these are all indications that something is wrong with your AC unit. For instance, you may have a leaky refrigerant line, which can cause it to hiss. Or, you may hear a clicking noise which can be caused if your fan is off-centered.

If your energy bill is continually rising, then your AC unit may be to blame. You may have a unit that is losing its efficiency, which may be caused by a number of issues. If your unit is constantly running, then it may be losing its ability to cool your home. You may have low refrigerant in the line, your compressor may be malfunctioning, you may have a bad fan, or your evaporator coil may be frozen over — among other problems. Your energy bills may also be high if your home is poorly insulated, or if you have leaks throughout the ductwork of your house. You should also check the filter of your air conditioner to make sure that it is relatively clean, since a filter caked in dust and debris won’t be nearly as efficient as a new filter (learn more about filters below).

You should swap out the filter of your AC unit every 30 to 90 days, as is recommended by the filter manufacturer. Take note, you’ll only have to swap out the air filter while the HVAC system is consistently being used. Also, be wary that some filters can be cleaned, instead of replaced. You may want to swap out your filter more often if you have pets in the house, if you are sensitive to pollen, if there are high amounts of pollutants in the air where you live, or if you suffer from asthma. Air filters are, generally, fairly inexpensive, and it’s worth the investment to improve the energy efficiency of your HVAC system, while improving the quality of your air.