Opposite of warming up your home’s water and air with safeguard heating, AC (Air-Conditioning) systems serve to cool down homes and buildings. But what happens when these systems go out? Whether you’re a prospective AC repair technician or just interested in their methods, we’ll cover everything about AC systems and how repairs work.
How Do AC Systems Work?
AC (Air-Conditioning) systems replace the warm heat energy in a home with cool air—most people understand that. Yet, how do these modern marvels work, and what do ac repair technicians do when something goes wrong?
An air conditioner has three main components: the compressor, condenser, and evaporators. Warm air in the home circulates over an evaporator, and the system’s refrigerant sucks the heat from that air. This process turns it into a hot vapor that moves from the evaporator to the compressor.
The compressor then pressurizes the vapor, allowing the condenser to convert it into a liquid, releasing the heat through the unit’s fins. The cooled refrigerant can then be cycled back through the home, where an expansion device manages how much cool air is released and brought back to the evaporator to be cooled again.
What Does an AC Technician Do?
An AC technician with at least an associate’s degree in AC repairs and some apprenticeship training generally conducts repairs on these units.
Those workers seeking advanced education can earn further certification for excellence in AC technician servicing through entry-level certification programs like the North American Technician Excellence (NATE).
A technician engages in extensive training to install and service AC units, giving them unique insight into how AC repairs work. They are familiar with different brands and models of AC and know how each of the parts is supposed to function. As such, their expertise is vital to correctly diagnosing and repairing malfunctions in the AC unit.
How Do Technicians Repair AC Units?
To go through the repair process, technicians will start by asking you some questions about the brand and model number. This information will help them understand the system better since each works differently. The repair process, however, is often quite similar.
Your AC expert will also ask questions about the problem if you call in for a repair. For example, if some parts of your home aren’t cooling properly, your technician might consider and investigate the possibility of leaking coolant.
Noises coming from the unit itself might indicate a buildup of friction requiring more lubricant. Often, the technician will rule out the most basic questions: “Is the AC unit turned on?” and “Is the thermostat working properly?” Of course, if the unit isn’t getting power, it’s not pumping any cool air inside your home.
Similarly, the technician will usually check your thermostat to ensure it’s reading the correct temperature and not experiencing any electronic malfunctions.
For example, suppose your thermostat is at 78, yet it’s incorrectly reading the temperature as 72. In that case, it will minimize the cooled air put through your home to raise the temperature to what it thinks it needs, making the temperature inside your house a lot warmer.
What Repairs Do Technicians Do?
Depending on the extent of the problem, the technician’s job may be as simple as flipping a circuit breaker that was tripped and ensuring the system runs correctly again. In other cases, there may be a malfunctioning or defective part affecting the performance of the AC unit as a whole.
In that case, the technician will need to use their specialized tools to take off the casing on the AC unit to investigate which part is worn or broken.
Generally, a bad AC unit’s symptoms are enough for a technician to know where to start. If a part has gone haywire, a technician will replace it and test the system to ensure it works properly.
They’ll also let you know what you can do in the future to prevent the problem from occurring or give you a list of symptoms that you should be on the lookout for. There are some common repairs that AC technicians need to do time and time again:
- Filter replacement – One of the most common repairs, filters need replacing every 6-12 weeks, depending on your manufacturer’s recommendations. Regardless, not changing your filters causes your AC unit to work harder, resulting in poor performance and, eventually, malfunctions.
- Thermostat levels – People don’t realize that the position of the thermostat is essential. For example, putting a thermostat somewhere that gets a lot of sun will make it think the temperature in the home is hotter than it is, prompting your unit to work harder. A technician may evaluate the thermostat’s position, function, and accuracy during their repair visit and make necessary adjustments.
- Refrigerant leaks – The refrigerant is a vital component in proper AC unit function, and if there’s a leak anywhere, your home isn’t going to get the cool air it needs. Worse yet, the coolant can damage the internal parts of a unit. A technician will inspect for leaks and repair faulty parts or components to ensure the unit runs smoothly.
- Drainage issues – Over time, the drain line can fill up with debris and become clogged, backlogging the water to the drain pan. This problem can cause rust and corrosion inside the unit, and a repair technician will check for drainage issues, clear out any debris, and repair any damaged parts.
- Motor failure – If the fan burns out, it’s likely down to the motor to which the blades are connected. A technician will check the motor and all other motorized parts—electrical control, contactors, coils, capacitors—and repair anything that isn’t working.
The Bottom Line
Many technical problems are bound to happen with an AC unit over time, but thankfully, experienced AC technicians know how to diagnose and repair broken parts effectively.
Wherever you are, there should always be a technician near you. Whether you’re in the market for Denver air conditioner repair, heating services in the mountains of Montana, or just simply inquiring about installation, there will always be someone near you. With technicians assessing the issue and replacing or repairing damaged components as necessary, the process is often quite simple.
However, feel free to ask the worker questions about his work and how he will do it. You can also take advantage of his expert knowledge to inquire about advice that can help you avoid future repairs or improve the efficiency of your AC unit.
