Can an Air Conditioner Condenser Be Repaired?
You’re hot. Your house is stuffy. You turn the thermostat down further to turn on the central air conditioning, but nothing happens. Or your air conditioner just won’t turn on. Could it be the air conditioning condenser? What is an air conditioning condenser? And can that be repaired? Carrano Air experts have answers and share their knowledge to help you make decisions that work for your home and budget.
The Central Air Conditioner Condenser
The air conditioner condenser is a coil, usually made of copper, that sits outside and releases the collected indoor heat. It works in tandem with the evaporator, a coil inside that cools your home.
A compressor pump moves refrigerant between these two coils to pull hot air out of your home and circulate cool air around your home.
In other words, without a working condenser, your central air conditioner will not do its job of cooling your home.
If this seems to be your problem, or if you’re unsure what the problem is and just needs your air conditioner to cool properly, call (732) 329-3784 or message us now to schedule a service appointment.
Frequent Air Conditioner Condenser Problems
Air conditioning condensers consist of many different parts. Sometimes one or more parts fail and can be repaired. In other cases, the capacitor has reached the end of its life and you may need to replace the entire unit.
Your air conditioner may have one of the following problems:
- Air Blockage From Dirt or Garden Debris – If your central air conditioner is dirty, covered in dust or leaves, or surrounded or blocked by vegetation, clean and brush it. You may find that your air conditioner works more efficiently.
- Condenser tubes or gaskets can crack or rupture, causing a leak.
- If you notice a problem with the air conditioner motor, there may be a problem with the run capacitor (it sounds like the motor is starting but it isn’t), or the motor itself may have burned out.
- If there is a problem with your air conditioner fan, the relay switch (the switch that turns on the cooling unit) may be to blame. Loose, bent, or broken air conditioning fan blades can also cause a problem.
- Breakage, damage, rust, rot, etc. can damage the air conditioner condenser coil. Coil problems can range from a simple fix (cleaning the unit or trimming branches and plants that are too close) to a more serious repair of a coolant leak.
How to Know if You Have an Air Conditioner Condenser Problem
Most homeowners only know that their air conditioner is not working. It is often difficult to diagnose the actual problem yourself. Carrano Air experts will guide you through your call or first appointment by asking you some crucial questions:
- Is your air conditioner blowing a fuse or causing a power outage?
- Are there any strange noises, like a loud popping sound, coming from your air conditioner condenser?
- Is there a liquid leak from your air conditioner?
- Do you notice that your air conditioner is struggling to keep your home cool?
- Your air conditioner refuses to start?
Repairing the Air Conditioner Condenser vs. Replacing It
Aside from replacing your HVAC air filter (or keeping your current filter clean), cleaning all of the air conditioner brushes, and keeping the area around the unit clean, repairing your air conditioner’s condenser is not a DIY job. The capacitor is sealed and you may not be able to just open it to fix it and then close it. Some parts of your AC unit also look the same. So you can mistakenly try to work on a part, thinking it’s a different part, and cause more problems than you originally had.
Although repairs are often less expensive than a complete central air conditioning replacement, a Carrano Air expert will help you determine the most appropriate option for your situation, budget and unit.
In general, if your air conditioner’s condenser, or even the entire unit, is more than 10-15 years old, we recommend replacing the entire unit rather than repairing it. Older parts are often harder to find, and homeowners often save money in the long run by replacing an inefficient older model with a newer, more energy-efficient central air conditioner.
Got HVAC or AC Problems? Call (732) 329-3784 or Schedule Service Online!
Schedule a consultation and find out if your air conditioning condenser can be repaired
Is your air conditioning not working as it should or not working at all? Call (732) 329-3784 or message us on our website. Our experts will ask you some critical questions and make an appointment to have your air conditioner checked.