Why is my air conditioning unit not cooling?

As temperatures rise, we may begin to notice that our air conditioning units aren't cooling. If you find yourself in this situation, know that you're not alone; there are many people in the same situation. Sometimes this can be due to a lack of basic adjustments to our equipment and homes, or a mechanical problem with the unit.

Below we will classify the reasons by: adjustment problems, maintenance problems and mechanical problems.

What are the adjustment problems?

• Open doors and windows. Many times the air conditioner doesn't cool because we have a door or window open and the sun is shining brightly at that moment. Whatever the reason, when the air conditioner isn't cooling, what we can do is check that the doors and windows are tightly closed.
• Remote Control De-programmed. Make sure the air conditioning control is in the correct mode. It should be on the cool mode icon, which on some control models has a shape (ice or asterisk). This is the correct mode for the air conditioner to begin cooling. On the other hand, the ventilation should be on high; this is the correct way for the unit to cool quickly. Once the room is completely cool, you can set your preferred temperature.
• Low power equipment: In another post, we discussed the importance of calculating the refrigeration capacity correctly, as we have unfortunately sometimes purchased equipment with a low refrigeration capacity for air conditioning.

What are the maintenance and cleaning issues?

• Dirty filtersDirt accumulated in the filters due to the constant work of the air conditioning unit is another reason why it doesn't cool. When the unit's filters are in operation, they trap a lot of dirt and bacteria that can't be seen with the naked eye. It's easy to tell when the filters are dirty: first, the evaporator blows very slowly; second, it sounds like it's crushing ice; then it's time to clean the filters.
• Dirt on the evaporator fanThe evaporator fan performs two very important functions in the process of cooling a room. It draws in air, passes it through the coil, and then expels it as fresh air. This air is then felt in a room. However, this becomes a problem if it becomes too dirty; the buildup of dirt can affect proper air absorption and expulsion.
• Dirt in the condenserPerforming preventive maintenance on the scheduled dates helps prevent many problems. Maintenance should be performed on both the internal and external units. Condenser cleaning should be performed by a trained professional.

What are the mechanical problems?

Once we have reviewed the previous reasons, we can suspect these third probable reasons.

• Gas leak from the equipmentThe refrigerant gas in the equipment can last a long time as long as the couplings between the indoor and outdoor units are properly connected. Our equipment may have run out of gas due to a leak in the motor, a leak inside the evaporator or condenser, or even a crack in the piping, or simply because it needs a gas refill. In this case, a technician assigned to this type of repair must locate the leak, since the gas doesn't run out or goes away on its own. The technician must then weld the hole that caused the gas to escape. After this operation, the gas must be recharged.
• Failure in el Compressor CapacitorThis happens due to wear, short circuits, and exceeding the capacitor's useful life. In this case, you should call an authorized service center.
• In any case, it's always a good idea to maintain our air conditioning systems with preventive maintenance. This will prevent many problems and ensure a long-lasting system.

At Pujol Clima, we specialize in air conditioning maintenance. We can provide you with expert technical advice for your new installations and also perform the necessary preventative maintenance for your air conditioning equipment. We operate throughout the western Vallès region, including the province of Barcelona, Rubí, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Castellar del Vallès, Martorell, Granollers, Sant Quirze del Vallès, Sabadell, and more.