The AC condenser is the unit that sits outside your home, and it serves two important roles. The first is to supply cold refrigerant to the evaporator coil inside the building, which is used to capture and remove heat from the home. The second role is to disperse the heat that the refrigerant removed into the air outside. If the condenser is broken or has major issues, your air conditioning won’t work properly. Unfortunately, many AC condenser issues can be hard to spot, so here are some signs to look for that can help you know when your condenser needs an AC repair service or if it needs to be replaced.
AC Won’t Turn On
An AC condenser that won’t turn on when the thermostat calls for cooling is an obvious sign that the unit has some issues. The first thing to do in this situation is to make sure that the system hasn’t tripped the circuit breaker.
If the circuit breaker isn’t tripped, you should then check to see if there is some issue with the thermostat failing to signal the condenser to turn on. Try turning the temperature on the thermostat down by 5 to 10 degrees. If the condenser starts when you turn the temperature down, it typically indicates that the thermostat isn’t calibrated properly or is in a location where it can’t accurately read your home’s temperature.
If the AC still won’t start when you turn the temperature down, you can then try switching the thermostat to heating mode and adjusting the temperature to where your heating system should kick on. If the heating also doesn’t turn on, you can be fairly certain that the issue lies with the thermostat and not the AC itself.
If your heating will run but the AC still won’t, you will need to have a technician inspect the condenser to determine what the specific issue is. In this case, it could be that the control board is faulty and needs to be replaced. Another possibility is that there is some electrical problem within the condenser that is preventing it from starting.
The problem could also be related to the contactor relay switch, which sits outside the home and relays the signal from the thermostat to the condenser. If the relay switch is bad, you will sometimes either hear a single click when the unit tries to start or a loud humming sound coming from the condenser.
If the unit won’t turn on, it can help to go outside and listen to the unit when it tries to start. If you hear a repeated clicking sound coming from the condenser, it means that the unit’s start capacitor is bad and needs to be replaced. This clicking sound may also be accompanied by a buzzing noise, which occurs when the compressor motor tries to start without the extra power supplied by the start capacitor.
Condenser Makes Unusual or Loud Noises
Loud or unusual noises coming from the condenser are a fairly obvious sign that the unit has some issues. A rattling or buzzing noise usually indicates that some component inside the unit is loose or that the rubber isolation feet that the condenser sits on are damaged and causing the unit to vibrate excessively.
A loud banging noise is often a sign of a much more serious problem, as this is usually caused by a loose component within the unit’s compressor motor. If the problem is related to the compressor, you will typically need to either replace the compressor motor or have a new unit installed as the compressor motor cannot be dissembled or repaired. In most cases, installing a new unit will be the better option because replacing the compressor motor will usually cost about the same as a new unit.
A hissing noise coming from the condenser is almost always a sign that the unit has a refrigerant leak. This is also something you will want to have checked out as soon as possible; low refrigerant levels can lead to serious damage.
A screeching or squealing noise coming from the condenser usually indicates a problem with the unit’s fan motor. If your unit is older, this sound typically means that the fan belt is worn out or not properly aligned. On newer units, a screeching noise usually means that the bearings that drive the motor are worn out and need replacing.
Unusually High Energy Bills
It is always a good idea to monitor your electricity bills throughout the summer as this can help you to know if your AC isn’t working correctly. A sudden, unexpected spike from one month to the next is a fairly obvious indicator that your air conditioning isn’t working effectively and is running for longer or more frequently than it should. In this situation, you will want to have your entire AC system inspected as the problem could be related to the condenser but it may also be due to an issue with the blower, thermostat or ductwork.
AC Constantly Short Cycles
Short cycling is when the AC condenser turns on and then shuts off before it has completed a full cycle. A full cooling cycle should normally take at least 15 minutes. If your AC only ever runs for less than 10 minutes, it indicates there is some issue causing it to short cycle.
Short cycling is a serious problem. Not only will it prevent the system from ever cooling your home properly, but the constant turning on and off also greatly increases the wear and tear on the unit and can lead to expensive repairs.
If your AC ever starts short cycling, the first thing to do is replace the air filter to see if that fixes the issue. A clogged air filter can cause many problems with the HVAC system and can result in the blower motor overheating and the system will automatically shut down.
Debris clogging the condenser, a dirty condenser coil or a malfunctioning condenser fan can also all lead to short cycling. In these situations, what happens is that the unit can’t disperse heat properly, which can lead to the compressor motor or fan motor overheating and causing the unit to shut off prematurely. The unit could also be short cycling because the refrigerant level is low due to a leak.
If you have recently moved into your home and noticed that the AC condenser is constantly short cycling, it may also be that the unit is oversized and larger than what is needed to cool your home. Unfortunately, the only real solution in this situation is to replace the unit with one that is properly sized for your home.
Expert AC Repair Services
At Christian Brothers Air Conditioning Plumbing Electrical, our technicians have years of experience with all types of AC repairs and can quickly diagnose why your system isn’t working properly and what can be done to fix the problem. We service and repair all brands, models and types of central AC units as well as ductless mini-splits, heat pumps and furnaces, and we also specialize in cooling and heating installation. We also have a team of professional plumbers and electricians that can take care of your home’s other important systems. To schedule an AC inspection or any other HVAC, plumbing or electrical service in the Glendale area, contact us today.
