The sun is ablaze in the bright-blue sky above. The Weather Channel promises several days of hot and humid weather. As beads of perspiration appear on your forehead, you turn on the air-conditioning.
Nothing.
According to Fred Hutchinson of Hutchinson Plumbing Heating Cooling in Cherry Hill, N.J., here are five reasons for a nonoperating system:
1. Inadequate maintenance. Dirty filters and air-conditioning coils can cause the machine to underperform.
2. Refrigerant leaks. Air conditioners work most effectively and efficiently when the refrigerant charge exactly matches the manufacturer’s specifications and is neither undercharged nor overcharged.
3. Drainage problems. This is a frequent issue with window air conditioners.
4. Electric control failure. The compressor and fan controls can wear out, especially when the air conditioner cycles on and off frequently, common when a system is oversize.
5. Sensor problems. To keep a room comfortable, window air conditioners have a thermostat sensor behind the control panel, which measures the temperature of air coming into the evaporative coil. If the sensor is knocked out of position, the air conditioner can cycle on and off too often or otherwise behave erratically.
— Alan J. Heavens
The Philadelphia Inquirer