5 Common Reasons Your A/C at Work, Isn’t Working!

Find Out What Has Gone Wrong

An air conditioner that doesn’t work as it should is a serious problem in the heart of summer. We rely on our AC to keep us feeling cool and comfortable — especially in the workplace, where discomfort leads to lowered productivity.

The average cooling unit lasts between 10 and 15 years, and there’s a good chance your workplace unit will need a repair or two during its lifetime. Even if the unit is newer, you may find that problems occur, particularly if the unit is not frequently serviced.

If your workplace AC is acting up, one of these 5 things is likely to blame. Here’s how you can spot the signs of these problems so you know to seek help from a professional.

1. Refrigerant Leak

A refrigerant leak may be the culprit if the AC unit is blowing air with no problems — it just isn’t cold air. Refrigerant is a crucial chemical inside your unit that cools the air that will circulate. If there’s a leak, you’ll need to get it filled with the right level of refrigerant.

Leaks are trickier to diagnose and fix than you might think. You should always call a technician not only to recharge your missing refrigerant, but to find the source of the leak. Never attempt this process yourself — refrigerants can be hazardous.

2. Condenser Malfunction

Your workplace AC unit likely works through a process of condensation, taking gaseous vapors and cooling them into liquid form. Heat moves throughout the coils and is transferred into the air outside, but if the condenser fan or compressor cannot run, then your air conditioner can’t cool properly.

Before calling in the experts, check that your thermostat is set at an appropriate temperature. If adjusting the thermostat doesn’t work, then you may need to clean the condenser on the outside of the building, removing any debris or sticks that might have entered the cabinet. If this doesn’t solve the problem, then the issue is probably electrical, and will require the attention of a technician.

3. Airflow Issues

Airflow is crucial for an effective AC unit. However, there are various factors that can block or disrupt airflow. Change filters frequently to reduce airflow problems. If they aren’t replaced often, the restriction of air could lead to poor performance from your AC. If you see the filter looking “domed” — this could be a sign that the unit needs more air, so replace your clogged filter.

If replacing filters doesn’t repair issues with airflow, then the problem may be deeper in your system. Although you can clear away debris and replace filters yourself, you’ll want to contact a technician if the problem goes beyond that.

4. Short Cycling

Short Cycling is a problem that often happens when the AC unit is too powerful for the area it’s attempting to cool. When this problem occurs, it will turn on and off frequently in an attempt to regulate the indoor temperature. This switching between on and off settings can cause compressors and controls to stop working properly.

When a motor or other electrical components begin to malfunction, you should contact an expert. This is another one of those elements on an AC unit that you’ll need a professional to repair and diagnose.

5. Insufficient Maintenance

Finally, allowing your air conditioner to run over long periods without maintenance is likely to cause issues as time passes. Many people don’t realize that a lot of problems arise within an AC unit as a result of both neglected maintenance or improper repair.

Hiring the wrong technician, or failing to seek one out, can set you up to face costly issues down the road. For the sake of your AC unit and the comfort of your employees, it’s always best to seek out the help of a professional.

Caring For Your AC Unit

Remember, you should never allow someone to work on your unit who isn’t certified as a technician. Air conditioning units can differ depending on make and model. Make sure that you always choose trained technicians who are certified to support you and your business.

At Bob Jenson Air Conditioning & Heating, we service AC units from all brands. If you’ve got a problem with your AC unit at work or at home, get in touch with us so we can get to the bottom of the problem.