Why Your AC May Have Problems After Running Hard All Summer

By September, an air conditioner in Arlington or Fort Worth may already have logged well over 1,000 hours of operation during the cooling season. Long run times, dozens of cycles each day and prolonged exposure to high outdoor temperatures can take a toll, especially on weakening components.

Not every late-summer AC problem is caused by accumulated wear from a season of heavy use, but several specific issues are more likely to show up at the tail end of the cooling marathon.

Weak Capacitors

Capacitors help start and run the compressor and fan motors. They are especially vulnerable to heat, and repeated cycling throughout a long cooling season can accelerate deterioration.

A weakening capacitor may not fail all at once. The AC may become harder to start, make unusual noises, shut down intermittently or eventually stop cooling when the capacitor can no longer provide the electrical support the motor needs.

Worn Contactors

The contactor is an electrical switch that allows power to flow to major outdoor-unit components when the thermostat calls for cooling.

Every cooling cycle causes the contactor to open and close. After months of repeated operation, the contact surfaces can become pitted, burned or worn.

A deteriorating contactor may cause intermittent operation, difficulty starting or other electrical problems even though the AC worked normally earlier in the summer.

Condenser Fan Motor Problems

The condenser fan moves outdoor air across the condenser coil so the system can release heat removed from inside the home.

During a DFW summer, that motor may operate for long stretches while sitting in extremely hot outdoor conditions. Bearings, windings and other internal components can gradually deteriorate. Increased noise, intermittent fan operation or a fan that struggles to start can all indicate a developing motor problem.

Blower Motor Wear

Heavy summer use also affects the indoor side of the system. The blower motor has to move conditioned air through the ductwork whenever the AC is running.

Long operating hours can expose problems with the motor, bearings or electronic controls. You may notice weaker airflow, unusual noises or inconsistent operation before the blower stops working completely.

Refrigerant Problems Can Become More Noticeable

Air conditioners do not consume refrigerant during normal operation. If the system is low on refrigerant, it either has a leak or was not properly charged during installation or a previous service.

A small leak may initially cause only a modest loss of cooling capacity. As refrigerant continues escaping, however, the AC may run longer, struggle to maintain the thermostat setting or produce warmer supply air. By late summer, a problem that was difficult to notice in May may be much more obvious.

Not Every Late-Summer Problem Is Component Wear

Some AC problems that appear after a long cooling season result from months of operation rather than a part wearing out.

Condenser coils can accumulate dust, grass clippings, cottonwood and other debris that interfere with heat transfer. An increasingly dirty coil can force the system to operate under more difficult conditions and reduce cooling performance.

Over multiple cooling seasons, condensate drain lines can gradually accumulate slime, algae and debris until the flow becomes restricted or blocked.

Most modern HVAC systems will shut themselves down if the drain pan is at risk of overflowing. Although this isn’t due to a worn component that needs to be replaced, the drain does need to be cleared before the system can resume normal operation.

Get Help With a Struggling Air Conditioner in DFW

A developing AC problem is not something to ignore just because summer is winding down. If your AC is behaving differently than it did earlier in the summer, it may be worth having the system checked.

Call Tom’s Mechanical at (817) 277-4493 to schedule AC repair or maintenance in Arlington, Fort Worth and the surrounding DFW area.