Temperatures are cooling down a bit now as we progress into fall, but if history is any indication—and it usually is—we could easily find ourselves facing an 85°+ heat wave in the “dead of winter.” Therefore, it’s imperative that you have a fully functional and efficiently operating air conditioner. Hopefully, you had your cooling system professionally maintained before summer, but regardless of whether you did or not, there are still some AC problems you may run into.
The long summers we have here, and the amount of labor those summers force your cooling system to go through understandably puts a lot of stress on the system, which can lead to components breaking down, warranting a call for AC repair in Austin, TX. One call we receive fairly often ends up being a problem from a failed capacitor.
What Are Capacitors?
These are electrical parts within your air conditioner that send voltage to the motors. Start capacitors get the motors running, while run capacitors keep them going. Capacitors are sensitive to high temperatures—which, we get a lot of!
If exposed to too much heat for too long, a capacitor begins to lose its ability to hold an electrical charge, which eventually leads to component failure. If a start capacitor fails, the motor won’t be able to start up—which, of course, means the AC will be useless. If it’s the run capacitor that fails, the motor will only be able to run for a brief time before shutting down.
Is There a Way to Tell If a Capacitor Is Failing?
You may not be able to detect the exact problem with your air conditioner—that’s what our team is here for—but there are indicators that you can listen for to determine if a capacitor might be failing. For instance, you may hear a clicking sound coming from your cooling system when it starts up. A hard-starting air conditioner (that is, an AC system that struggles every time it turns on) is another sign of a possible capacitor issue.
However, it’s important to note that there are other problems that can cause hard-starting. The best thing to do is call in a professional to check your system. If one of your capacitors does fail, then a pro needs to come in and replace it for you. If you attempt this repair on your own or trust an inexperienced handyman for the job, you could end up with the wrong type of capacitor, and this will further damage your cooling system.
Leave AC Repairs to the Pros
As we mentioned above, there are a number of possible causes for air conditioning troubles, and there are also different types of capacitors for different cooling systems. When you find that you need air conditioning repairs, it’s important that you trust the professionals for the job. This way, you can get an accurate diagnosis. It is hard, without a trained eye, to know exactly what is causing any particular cooling system malfunction.
Trust in an HVAC professional who has years of training and experience so that you’ll have access to the right equipment and the technicians who know how to use it. You also want a professional who is licensed and trained to handle refrigerant, can conduct repairs efficiently, and provides warranty protection.
For professional AC services you can rely on, contact Roznovak’s Services today!
