6 Common HVAC Problems That Arise During the Summer

In South Carolina, the summer season can get very hot, muggy, and uncomfortable. People inside homes without working air conditioning systems suffer greatly in such weather conditions. Unfortunately, hot summer weather conditions can exacerbate existing HVAC problems inside poorly maintained AC units.

That's where we come in at Dr. Cool The Heat & Air Doctor. In addition to our premium heating services, we provide cutting-edge AC repair services in Columbia, SC.

If you want to keep your HVAC system running at full strength throughout the summer, you’ll need to take proactive steps. Even the best-made and most durable HVAC units eventually suffer damage over time. When they do, they tend to happen at the most inconvenient times, leaving you and your family in a bind.

That said, if you spot common HVAC problems during warm months, our seasoned team members can perform preventive maintenance checks. During these visits, we examine all your system components from top to bottom. If we find any issues with even a small component, we’ll take care of it on the spot.

Our devotion to service keeps your system running at peak levels throughout the year.

HVAC System Component Basics

It’s worth your while to learn more about the basic components that make up your HVAC system. By knowing more, you can spot potential problems when they arise.

Some standard AC system components include:

• Refrigerant fluid
• Condenser coils
• Compressor
• Thermostat
• Ductwork
• Expansion valves
• Coolant lines

The AC unit pumps the refrigerant fluid throughout the entire system to produce cool air. As it travels through the network, the refrigerant picks up heat from inside the house and deposits this thermal energy outside. If any components supporting this process break, the entire cooling process can fail.

Common Summertime HVAC Issues

Your home HVAC unit suffers more wear and tear during the summer than at any other time during the year. It undergoes this wear because your residential or commercial HVAC unit runs almost continually during the hottest part of the year. Therefore, the continual stress on your AC components can cause one or several of them to fail.

However, HVAC component failure is not a foregone conclusion. If you pay attention to drops in HVAC performance, you can have an HVAC professional address the issue while it is still minor.

The following list includes some frequently seen summer HVAC problems:

1. Refrigerant Leaks

Refrigerant is the lifeblood of your HVAC system. It circulates through your cooling network and constantly changes from gas to liquid. During summer, when temperatures are high, your system stays on for extended periods.

When it’s hot out, the refrigerant must frequently go through its expansion and compression process. If any of your components are not up to speed, they’ll make a refrigerant leak almost inevitable. Even though leaks can be hard to spot, some usual-suspect areas include compressors, condensers, and transfer lines.

If you notice a drop in your system’s cooling capacity, you should schedule a service technician visit. The HVAC professional can quickly check your refrigerant levels with professional equipment.

2. Electrical Problems

Your residential or commercial HVAC system runs on electric power. As a result, it has large amounts of wiring running through the system. Other parts include logic controllers, breakers, and similar electrical devices.

If any of these wires break or malfunction, the entire system may stop working. Your AC also works overtime during the summer months to keep your house cool. If it has electrical power flow problems, it may experience surges and possibly circuit breaker activation.

If the switch for your AC system constantly trips, it's probably time to call the professionals.

3. Capacitor Overheating

Capacitors are electronic devices that store electrical energy and release it on demand. Your commercial or residential HVAC system likely has some capacitors in its electrical design. During the summer months, operating temperatures inside the unit paired with outdoor heat can overheat your capacitor.

If the capacitors overheat too much, they can completely fail.

4. Thermostat Malfunction

The thermostat is the nerve center of your residential or commercial HVAC system. Modern thermostats come in several levels of capability. These levels range from your basic programmable thermostat to cutting-edge smart thermostats.

Both programmable and smart thermostats let you set temperatures to your preferred settings. The smart thermostat takes this ability a step further by learning about your preferences and proactively activating or deactivating your system. Because the newer thermostat systems closely interconnect with this hardware, even small glitches result in a major drop in comfort.

5. Drainage Problems

During daylight hours in the summer months, your commercial or residential HVAC system may run continuously. As it does, it produces cold temperatures that, in turn, create moisture. This condensation usually flows out of the house through special channels.

However, if these moisture evacuation routes become clogged, water can back up and re-enter the home. If you notice excessive amounts of moisture flowing into the house from your AC unit, a clogged drainage line is likely the culprit.

6. Air Flow Blockages

If you have a central or ductless mini-split HVAC system, it has outside components like compressors and condensers. These components require air flow over their coils to provide cooling effects. However, during the summer months, plants and other types of foliage tend to bloom thickly around these outdoor units.

If such vegetation or other types of blockage collect around these sensitive components, they will impede airflow. As a result, the system will suffer efficiency problems.

At Dr. Cool The Heat & Air Doctor of Lugoff, SC, we can help you overcome all these HVAC problems and stay comfortable this summer. If you experience AC system failure, we offer 24/7 emergency services to get your system back online quickly. We invite you to follow the link to learn more about AC maintenance for your convenience.

To enjoy the best in local HVAC services, contact us for a free consultation at 803-368-5500.