What Should I Do if My AC Won’t Turn Off?
In the summertime, many people often rely on the air conditioner. When it doesn’t work properly as it should, it can be frustrating. One of the problems the AC may have is that it continuously runs and does not turn off, which would make your energy bills much higher than normal.
There are a number of factors that can cause your AC to continuously run. These include:
- Dirty Evaporator Coil
- Frozen Evaporator Coil
- Clogged Air Filter
- Restrictive Filter
- Low Refrigerant Charge
- Faulty Thermostat
- Leaky Ducts
- Dirty or Blocked Condenser
- Motor and Fan Issues
- Wrong Sized Unit
If you notice that your air conditioner is continuously running, work on these steps:
Check the Thermostat
Sometimes the thermostat will get reset or set incorrectly, and that’s why the air conditioner won’t turn off. It may be that the temperature is set too low. Try resetting it so that the temperature is above room temperature and see if it shuts off. If it doesn’t shut off, then the thermostat is not the problem.
Clean the Condensing Unit
If the condenser coils are dirty, they won’t be able to effectively cool down space. The compressor would have to run continuously in order to achieve the desired temperature. Check the coils for any dirt and debris and clean as necessary.
Check the Fan Limit Switch
Near or on the blower, you will find a fan limit switch. This switch allows the fan to run independently from the settings on the thermostat. Check to see if there is a manual override, which can result in the fan running on its own. Change the settings, from manual to auto, so the fan will only run in conjunction with thermostat settings.
Conduct Thorough AC Maintenance
If you have tried these other steps, it’s time to contact a professional to conduct thorough AC maintenance to figure out the problem. A professional will check to make sure the unit is cleaned and that all the components are working properly. This will also help ensure that your energy bills aren’t too high. Many issues that can cause your AC to continuously run can be prevented with regular AC maintenance. Regular AC maintenance should be done in the spring so that you can ensure your unit will be running properly all summer long. By neglecting AC maintenance, you may end up spending more to fix your unit in the long run.
Proudly Serving Lake Oconee
Contact Patterson Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. serving Lake Oconee, Lake Sinclair, and the surrounding areas to schedule AC maintenance. In addition to AC maintenance, we offer new installation, indoor air quality services, air duct cleaning and sealing and commercial HVAC services. We offer financing and specials to get you the right heating and cooling solutions for your needs.