3 Common Reasons for AC Overheating and Breakdown

Reasons for AC Overheating and Breakdown

Is your AC overheating and failing to keep your home or office space cool? Knowing why this happens can help you take the steps necessary to stop your AC overheating. In this article, we take you through the three most common causes of AC overheating, and we explore what can be done to reverse this.

To learn more or schedule an appointment for AC repair and maintenance service in St. Louis, contact the experts at Galmiche and Sons today. Serving the St. Louis area since 1950, we can provide expert repair services and keep your AC running efficiently all summer. Contact us online or by phone at 314-993-1110 to schedule your HVAC maintenance service.

Three Reasons for AC Overheating You Need To Know About

1. Leaky Refrigerant

A properly installed and well-functioning air conditioner shouldn’t leak refrigerant. But sometimes, damage to the internal AC unit can cause cracks in the air conditioning system and coils, leading to refrigerant leakage. Refrigerant leaks will make your air conditioner work hard to achieve the same level of cooling, which is a common cause of AC overheating.

The typical cause of AC refrigerant leaks is corrosion of the AC pipes due to exposure to formaldehyde that is present around the house in fuel-burning appliances, cigarettes, heaters, etc. This formaldehyde turns into formic acid and burns through the copper tubing, leading to holes, from where refrigerant leakage often happens.

2. Debris-Clogged Filters

Your AC filters out dust, pollutants, and pathogens in the air before cooling the clean air and sending it out into the room. Over time, the filters in your air conditioner can fill up and get clogged with this debris.

When this filter is not cleaned, your AC system needs to work harder than normal to restore normal airflow. Plus, you may have to run the AC for a lot longer to get your room to cool because the clogged filter slows down the cooling. When this happens, it results in AC overheating.

3. Dirty and Grimy Condenser Coils

The condenser coils are essential for cooling both the AC unit and your home. The condenser coil collects the heat that is produced during the process of cooling and releases it outside.

The condenser coils of your AC system face outwards, where they are constantly exposed to the dirt and debris in the environment. If regular AC system cleaning isn’t done, the condenser coils will start to collect a thick layer of dust.

The layer of grime and dirt can prevent the coils from releasing this heat, which results in your AC overheating.

How Do You Stop Your AC from Overheating?

To stop your AC overheating, you will need to:

  • Fix or replace any copper tubing that has been corroded due to formic acid.
  • Clean or replace the AC filters once every 60-90 days.
  • Wash or vacuum the condenser coils regularly to ensure the layer of grime doesn’t build up.

Hiring professionals for regular AC maintenance can be one of the best ways to stop AC overheating, as it keeps your system clean and running at peak efficiency.

Choose Our St. Louis Experts for Air Conditioning Repairs

Causes for an AC Overheating and Breakdown

Fixing the underlying problems causing an overheated AC is the best way to restore your air conditioner to how it should be. Our team at Galmiche & Sons can identify copper tubing problems, clean and replace AC filters, and wipe down the condenser coils. Additionally, our experienced professionals can keep an eye out for any other AC operational concerns, fixing the issue before it becomes a hard-to-solve problem.

Our team is also an expert in AC sizing and installation. We can replace your air conditioning system if your AC does not stop overheating despite implementing all these solutions.

To learn more or schedule your air conditioner service appointment, contact us online or by phone today.

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