Common reasons for poor a/c system performance
Homeowners and businesses in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, Parkland, Coral Springs and the South Florida area know the importance of having an air conditioning system that functions optimally. Not only does this ensure comfort, but also creates energy consumption efficiencies and enhances indoor air quality. Consequently, it can be super stressful when your A/C system doesn’t perform well, especially during the hot summer months in South Florida. Quality First Air Conditioning (QFAC) has been proudly serving residential and commercial clients in and around Broward and and Palm Beach Counties over the past two decades thanks to a team of highly experienced and well-trained technicians.
Some of the most common reasons that can cause an A/C system to operate poorly are summarized here:
• Dirty Air Filter
A dirty air filter significantly affects the functionality of the A/C system. By obstructing proper air flow through the system, performance can be significantly impacted. Often, this lack of airflow results in the A/C system “freezing up” as the cooled air stays inside the lines too long. Consequently, it is important to change the filters regularly (every 30 to 90 days) to ensure proper airflow and optimal filtering of dust, dirt and other airborne debris.
At QFAC, we offer custom “leak proof” Air Filters so you know you have the best fit for your A/C system. • Clogged Drain Line
The drain system in an A/C system is meant to remove the condensed water from the A/C. When this process doesn’t function properly, water begins to gather up inside the A/C unit. Drain problems can be caused when dirt or other forms of debris clog up the drainage system. It can also be a result of loose drain lines and pipes. Water leaking outside the drainage system or gathering up inside A/C components can eventually freeze.
Bear in mind that drain lines are a component of your residential or commercial building structure. So, very often, the drain lines are as old as the structure. Over time, build-up of algae, dirt, and other debris naturally occur, causing poor drainage of the lines. Also, the design of newer A/C systems require the circulation of more water flow than older systems, and thus also require better drainage.
An easy cure for this is to routinely check the drain system of your A/C. Make sure there are no leaks in the drainage pipes and the outlet is not clogged with dirt.
QFAC offers a Preventative Maintenance Program (PMP) to ensure drain lines are cleared at regular intervals. We also offer special flush process to clear out older drain lines that have become somewhat obstructed over time. And, we offer the option to replace legacy drain lines with new ones.
• Thermostat
The importance of the thermostat to an A/C system cannot be overemphasized. The A/C cannot function properly if the thermostat is blank, broken, outdated, or needs batteries.
In many cases, a frozen A/C system is simply the result of a poorly configured thermostat. If you set your thermostat too low, the A/C is going to blast chilled air which will inevitably lead to over-cooling and condensation. This can also result from running an A/C at a extremely low temperature for long periods. You can resolve this by ensuring that the thermostat is set not too low. If the A/C has to be used for long periods on end, set up a schedule or use a programmable thermostat to turn it off on frequent intervals.
• Low Refrigerant Levels
The refrigerant (R410A/current or R22/legacy Freon) in your air conditioning system often depends on the right pressure to function properly. During normal operation, water vapors may condense on the outside of the lines carrying the refrigerant. But when the pressure changes for some reason, the refrigerant may start to act abnormally. In such a case, the refrigerant may cause the air outside the line to condense and then freeze. You may not notice this immediately but with the passage of time, ice may form up both inside and outside the line. This will affect the flow of cool air through the system.
This problem can be resolved by having your refrigerant levels inspected and restored by trained, qualified professionals.
• Electrical
There are a variety of electrical issues that can impact the performance of your A/C system. Power surges (especially in South Florida), tripped breakers, blown fuses, and wiring issues all can contribute to poor performance of your system.
A particularly common outcome of a power surge is to make the compressor to run backwards. This not only causes poor A/C system performance, but also makes a loud scraping noise that is very grating and uncomfortable.
QFAC has prevented many compressors from running backwards by installing a compressor time delay control. This time delay component greatly mitigates the impact of power surges on the compressor by “timing out” the system for a short period of time after a power surge to ensure the impact is avoided.
Over more than twenty years, Quality First Air Conditioning has built a reputation as the go-to A/C service, repair, installation, and maintenance solutions provider for residential, commercial, and construction customers in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, Parkland, Coral Springs, Broward and Palm Beach Counties. The Company continues to offer reliable services to meet the air conditioning, ductwork, and indoor quality needs of residential, commercial, and construction customers across the area.
