Basic Troubleshooting
In this section we will outline several things to check before you call for service. A complete guide to trouble shooting is not the scope, nor the intent of this text. In the link below, there is a brief form to complete that we may be able to help diagnose a specific problem you may have.
If at any point in this section you do not feel comfortable with anything suggested, DO NOT PROCEED. Call LIBERTY Cooling & Heating, Inc for professional help. The items we have outlined are intended to diagnose simple problems, which you may or may not be able to repair yourself to avoid an unnecessary service call until your regular maintenance checkup is due. Your Air Conditioning System is a complicated system with many areas and parts that are not accessible to untrained persons. Always read the caution labels on the unit and DO NOT remove any protective covers. This may expose high voltage wiring and will be dangerous.
Sections
Be sure the thermostat is switched to Cool, the Fan is switched to Auto, and adjusted low enough to be turning on. Be sure the filter is clean.
There are several areas that could cause your system to freeze up, most of which will need professional service. Making sure the filter is clean and the air flow is not restricted are about the only items you can check yourself. Other than that, you will need to call your Service Company.
Low Refrigerant: In most cases, this is caused by a leak in the refrigerant lines. Weak solder joints, friction from piping rubbing or vibrating against an object, leaking valves or loose fittings. Depending on the age of the system and the nature and location of the leak is the determining factor on having it repaired or replaced.
Dirty Evaporator Coils: Over the years, the Evaporator coils will become dirty. When this happens, the results are the same as a dirty filter. Gradually you will loose air flow, slow enough you probably would not realize it until it just freezes up or it is not cooling as well as it did last year. Unfortunately, you will need service for this one. Cleaning the coils can be difficult and may need to be removed to be done properly. Chemicals and a lot of rinsing will be necessary.
Defective Blower Motor or Relay: A Blower motor not running or at the proper speed will cause freezing. It could also be intermittent, starting at full speed and slowing down after it heats up. Or a relay could cause it to start one time and not the next. Either case you will need Service.
If you find your system was freezing because of a dirty filter, after
replacing or cleaning the filter you can speed up thawing the ice by
turning the system off and turning the fan on. If you have a heat pump,
switch the system to heat until the ice has melted. After the ice has
melted, switch everything back to normal and switch to cool. If this has
not answered your question, you may need to call for service.
Most drains are gravity feed, meaning as moisture is removed from the air, it collects in the condensation pan and is removed, usually to the outside, by means of a gradual decline of piping. It is either piped to the outside, usually by the condenser, or to a drain inside the home. The majority of the problems with this type of drain system is an algae build up in the piping. Regular maintenance will prevent this in most cases. But on occasion, especially with older systems, it will clog up and leak. If you can locate the drain opening, blowing air or carefully flushing it out with a garden hose should take care of the problem until regular service.
Other systems use condensation pumps. The drain from the unit is piped into the pump. From there it is piped to either the outside or an inside drain. As the water level in the pump fills, a float turns the pump on until it is below the float level. Be sure the pump is plugged in and turned on. If it is full and not running, please fill out the service call form online..
With most systems installed today, they will have safety switches
installed. This will shut the system down to prevent water damage. If
you are not familiar with the location of the auxiliary drain pans or
able to empty them then do not try. Call LIBERTY
Cooling & Heating, Inc. If you have a regular contract
with them you will probably get a discount for this call.
Be sure the thermostat is switched to Cool, the Fan is switched to Auto, and adjusted low enough to be turning on. Be sure the filter is clean.
Air Conditioning is a very complex system with many parts and variables which can go wrong. It would be impossible for us to explain in any kind of detail or even touch in many areas of trouble shooting. This is best left to an experienced Technician. We are only offering easily accessible suggestions that may save you a service call.
Below are a few items to check if your system is not cooling. In most cases your Service Company will need to be called, but let's check the obvious first.
Low Refrigerant: If the filter is clean and everything is running, you may be low on refrigerant. A quick way to check this is feel the larger of the 2 pipes going into the condenser. It should be cold. If it is not, chances are you are low and will need service.
Are all of your vents open? Dirty evaporator coils can act
like a dirty filter. This will be a gradual change over time.
Indications are 'not cooling as well as it did last year,' freezing up,
and higher electric bills.
If the unit is FREEZING, click here. If after checking everything we have outlined and your unit is still not cooling, call your Service Company.
Be sure the thermostat is switched to Cool, the Fan is switched to Auto, and adjusted low enough to be turning on. Be sure the filter is clean.
(Note: What is outlined in the following sections may
or may not diagnose your problem and chances are, even if it does, you
will need to call your Service Company for repair. This is only an
outline to help locate and understand what the problem may be. Repairs
done to the condenser or air handler should be performed by qualified
technicians only.)
Be sure the thermostat is switched to Cool, the Fan is switched to Auto, and adjusted low enough to be turning on. Be sure the filter is clean.
(Note: What is outlined below may or may not diagnose your problem and chances are, even if it does you will need to call your Service Company for repair. This is only an outline to help locate and understand what the problem may be. Repairs done to the condenser should be performed by qualified technicians only.)
Condenser Not Running (Blown Fuses/Tripped Breakers)
Switch the system off at the thermostat. Check the breakers or fuses. Reset breaker or replace fuses if necessary. Switch the system on at the thermostat. If the breaker trips or the fuse blows again at this point, you need to call your service company. This is an indication of a more serious problem possibly causing a direct short.If Fuses/Breakers are OK
While next to the condenser, have someone turn the unit on. Did you hear a 'click'? If you did, this is the contactor. It supplies the power to the unit. If the unit did not start at this point, did you hear any other sounds? Loud humming could indicate a bad fan motor, capacitor, or burnt wire. A loud humming with the fan running could indicate a locked compressor. If you can feel excessive heat from the top of the unit, this is another indication of a bad fan motor...causing the compressor to over heat and shut down.If you did not hear a click, there is a low voltage problem, loose/broken wire, control lockout or bad contactor. If you like, take note of any sounds you hear and complete the Contact Us form.
Overload Protection
Some units have time delays installed for overload protection. It protects the compressor from restarting after a power surge or failure. If it is operating properly, it will restart after a few minutes. If it is defective, it will need to be replaced by your Service Company.If the above information does not solve your problem, complete the Contact Us form with as much detail you can provide and we will reply to you within a day with other suggestions, or call your Service Company.
Be sure the thermostat is switched to Cool, the Fan is switched to Auto, and adjusted low enough to be turning on. Be sure the filter is clean.
(Note: What is outlined below may or may not diagnose your problem and chances are, even if it does you will need to call your Service Company for repair. This is only an outline to help locate and understand what the problem may be. Repairs done to the air handler should be performed by qualified technicians only.)
Air Handler Not Running
Usually if the Air Handler is not running, the Condenser will not be running. Switch the system off at the thermostat. Reset breaker or replace fuses if necessary. Switch the system back on. If the breaker trips or the fuse blows again at this point, call your service company.If Fuses/Breakers are OK
Switch system off. Check the condensation drain section. Some A/C systems have safety devices installed that will help prevent the unit leaking water if the drain becomes backed up. Most drains are gravity feed meaning as moisture is removed from the air; it collects in the condensation pan and removed, usually to the outside, by means of a gradual decline of piping. If the drain system becomes clogged, a float switch (if installed) will shut it down to prevent leaking. Check for excessive water build up in the drain pan or auxiliary drain pan. Clean out the drainpipe and remove the excess water in the pan and restart the system. On systems with Condensate Pumps, be sure the pump is plugged in and not clogged. It may need to be serviced by a professional.If the condenser is running, the fan relay or blower motor/capacitor could be bad. Again, this will require a service call. Other areas of fault would be the thermostat or low voltage transformer. Unless you have a digital thermostat, usually the thing that will go wrong with it is poor contact because of age or dirt. They are readily available and fairly easy to install in about 10 minutes.