As the hottest months of the year get nearer, it is more important than ever that your air conditioning system is working flawlessly. Unfortunately, sometimes when you turn on your air conditioner after a long winter, things don’t always go as planned. There are times that these problems can be easily solved by some simple troubleshooting. If you are hearing nothing but a clicking noise when you turn on your air conditioner, it is time to find out why! Ambient Heating & Air Conditioning is here to share some troubleshooting tips to help you get your air conditioner up and running again.
How to Check if Capacitor is Working or Not
When you hear that horrible clicking in place of what should be your aid conditioner kicking on, it could be a problem with your capacitor. The capacitor is located on the outdoor unit. This part is usually found on older units since they often need a little kick start to begin working. It basically acts as a battery for your air compressor. Just like batteries lose their charge over time, so do capacitors. Unfortunately, without a capacitor to help your air conditioner kick on, you could be out of luck. The best way to diagnose a capacitor problem is by inspection. Signs of a bad capacitor include a bulging bottom or top, and/or discharge on the capacitor that will look gooey.
AC Contactor Troubleshooting
Another common problem with your air conditioner when you hear a clicking sound could be your contactor. The contactor is also located on the outside unit and is key in the unit running well. It works hand in hand with the thermostat and the compressor. When the thermostat sends the signal to cool, the contactor give the compressor the push to start working. If it isn’t working properly, you will not get the result you are looking for which is an air conditioner that starts blowing cool air. When the contactor is the problem, you won’t hear anything but a click when you turn the air conditioner on. There will be no buzzing or humming, just a click. This is very indicative of a contactor problem.
Air Conditioning Maintenance, Repairs & More in Springfield, Granby, Holyoke, South Hadley, Monson, Chicopee & Agawam Massachusetts
Unfortunately, both of these issues require a professional to repair them. It is important that you don’t try to take care of these complex issues on your own or you risk further damaging the system by doing so. Ambient Heating & Air Conditioning has trained technicians that can give your air conditioner the inspection it needs as we head into the hottest season of the year. When you have your system inspected each year, you will more than likely catch any potential problems so when you turn on your unit, it is running flawlessly to cool your home. If there are any problems noted in the inspection, we will work quickly and efficiently to solve it. Before you are facing unwanted repairs this summer, call us and we will ensure your unit maintained and working properly.