When your air conditioner is keeping you cool in the summer, the last thing you want is for it to overheat. In addition to signaling poor energy-efficiency, overheating can cause system breakdowns, leaving you without cool air when you need it most. If you’re facing this common problem, here are a few reasons why your air conditioner may be on the fritz and how a trusted HVAC contractor can help.

3 Causes of AC Overheating

1. Clogged Air Filters

HVAC filters are designed to remove contaminants from the air so that you won’t have to breathe in dirt, dust, and allergens. After some time, these filters can become clogged, making it harder for cool air to make it through your ventilation system. When this happens, your equipment won’t be cooling rooms effectively, forcing it to stay on longer than it should.

To fix this common overheating problem, you simply need to replace your air filter. To ensure it doesn’t happen again, make sure to replace the filters every 90 days—or 60 days if you own pets.

2. Low Refrigerant

Refrigerant—or Freon—flows throughout the coils of your system to help absorb heat and produce cool air. In general, this refrigerant should never run out. However, if a leak forms, the Freon will escape and leave your equipment without any cooling ability. As you run the air conditioner, all the parts will continue operating while failing to produce the desired temperatures, resulting in eventual overheating.

Since this problem can be hard to pinpoint, you’ll need to call an HVAC contractor to find the leak. If the leak is small enough, they may be able to repair it and recharge the Freon levels. However, if the damage is considerable and your equipment is older, full system replacement may be recommended.

3. Dirty Condenser Coils

Located in the outdoor unit, condenser coils are designed to release heat that is absorbed by the evaporator coils located within the indoor unit. Over time, these coils can collect dust and dirt from being outside, making it more difficult for heat to escape. As the temperature builds, your HVAC system faces a greater risk of overheating.

If you catch the problem early enough, dirty condenser coils won’t cause lasting damage. In these instances, you should call an HVAC contractor who knows how to locate and clean the coils without causing damage to their sensitive parts. In terms of preventive maintenance, this cleaning should occur about once a year.

When you want to keep your HVAC system in great working order, there’s no better team to turn to than Thomaston Oil. Serving the Thomaston, CT, area, this HVAC contractor is equipped to not only maintain your central air system but also identify and fix problems with confidence. In addition to air conditioner service, this specialist can also tend to other popular climate control systems—such as boilers and furnaces. To learn more about their capabilities, visit this oil company online. For prompt assistance, call (860) 283-4878.