Self- repair of air conditioners is quite a difficult task. After all, in order to do it, you need to understand the operating principle, structure and features of this climate control equipment. At the same time, today many household units have a table of error codes in the instructions, which can easily identify the malfunction. And knowing the breakdown, you can already decide whether you can repair the split system yourself or you need to contact a service center for specialists.
But before moving on to the malfunctions, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the installation and operation of these units.
Installation and filling of air conditioner
The main condition for the high-quality operation of any climate control device is its competent installation and timely scheduled repairs. The installation of the air conditioner must be done according to the instructions and SNiP requirements, the connection of the tubes must be done using a special tool. And electrical installation must be performed by classified specialists, according to the diagram attached to the accompanying manual.
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As a rule, household climate control devices can be connected to a single-phase line. However, when purchasing a device with a capacity of more than 3 kW, it must be connected to a three-phase network with a voltage of 380 V.
Air conditioning refill
For climate control devices, a normal occurrence is a freon leak of 2-3% of the total amount over 1 year. Accordingly, because of this, it is necessary to refill once every 12-18 months. This process occurs in different ways. If the equipment operates on R-22 freon, then you can only refill the system.
However, when repairing many air conditioners in offices, in accordance with international standards, they are filled with environmentally friendly refrigerants 410A and R-407C. In this case, such gas may have to be pumped in full by weight and volume, having previously vacuumed the main line.
How an air conditioner works
All components of the split system are connected to each other with copper tubes and form a closed circuit in which freon is located. The algorithm of interaction of the components of the air conditioner is as follows:
- Gas enters the compressor under low pressure of 3-5 atm.
- During operation, the unit pumps refrigerant into the condenser, after which there is a throttling device in the form of a capillary tube.
- Due to the small hole at the throttle, gas accumulates in front of it and increased pressure of up to 17-20 points is created in the heat exchanger. The temperature increases to 80-85˚С.
- The refrigerant changes into a liquid state and is fed in measured quantities through the throttle along the circuit into the evaporator of the indoor unit.
- Since the volume of the radiator is large and liquid freon enters it in small quantities, it expands, again turning into a gaseous state, thereby cooling the radiator.
- At this time, the fan blows air through the fins of the expander, which also cools down and disperses throughout the room, creating coolness in the room.
Under the action of the compressor, the movement of freon in the line does not stop; after the evaporator, it again enters the unit and the entire process is repeated.
Air conditioner malfunctions
Nowadays, modern climate control equipment is equipped with error codes about possible breakdowns. You just need to be able to decipher them and diagnose them correctly. The most common malfunctions are the following:
The unit does not turn on
This is one of the most common problems with split systems, and obviously every owner of such a device has encountered it. These faults are often caused by the electrical part:
- The air conditioner is not connected – check the connection to the socket.
- Failure in the control microcircuit – specialist intervention is required.
- The remote control is faulty – check the batteries.
- An error is generated when receiving a signal – classified diagnostics is required.
- There is no data transfer between modules – specialized diagnostics are required.
Also, a failure in the system may be due to wear of the rubbing parts in the mechanisms (in the compressor and fan). In some cases, you can repair the air conditioner yourself on site.
Turning off the split system after a short period of operation
This malfunction may occur due to overheating of the compressor or fan motor, as well as due to a decrease in pressure inside the circuit. In the first case, most likely, the heating of the mechanisms occurs due to contamination of heat exchangers, grilles or filters. In the second case – due to the small volume of refrigerant – the compressor is constantly working, trying to create the necessary pressure, which is the reason for its overheating and shutdown of the air conditioner.
Condensate leak
Water is dripping from the indoor unit. There may be several reasons for this malfunction:
- The drainage system is clogged. If this happened at sub-zero temperatures, then most likely ice formed in the pipe at the outlet from the wall of the house. To fix the problem, you need to melt the ice and then insulate the drainage channel. If the pipe is simply clogged, then you just need to clean it and the cause of the drip will be eliminated.
- Insufficient amount of freon. In this case, the evaporator itself freezes, and as a result, condensate drops. Urgent repair by specialists from the service center is required.
- There may also be a freon leak from the connections of the tubes with the fittings. In this case, it is necessary to tighten the nuts.
Filter contamination
Clogged filter elements are another common problem during air conditioner operation. For this reason, air with harmful impurities can enter the room, which is dangerous for human health. Also, due to the poor permeability of the elements, overheating of the fan motors occurs.
Special attention should be paid to mobile air conditioner filters during repairs, due to their low location to the floor. The fact is that the proximity of this part of the air conditioner to the area where there is a high probability of finding debris contributes to the rapid clogging of air filters.
Smells
There are situations when a characteristic smell comes from the air conditioning unit, this is especially noticeable when repairing industrial air conditioners. If the “smell” is of burnt insulation, then the wiring should be checked, but it is recommended to entrust such control to a specialist from an air conditioning repair company.
If the smell has signs of mold or mustiness, then most likely a colony of bacteria has formed inside the modules. It can only be eliminated with the help of an antifungal agent.
No heating
When the four-way valve is turned on, the air in the room continues to cool. The most likely cause is a faulty valve, which in such cases is often replaced together with the pipeline. This is due to the fact that it is not always possible to install a new valve on an old pipeline due to soldering in inconvenient places.
To ensure quality air conditioner maintenance in such cases, it is recommended to contact air conditioner repair shops.
Features of air conditioner operation
Many manufacturers of air conditioning devices indicate the temperature range in which it can operate properly.
Typically they specify the following negative temperature limits for safe operation of air conditioning equipment:
- Classic wall-mounted split systems can be switched on at temperatures up to – 5˚С;
- Air conditioners with inverters are usually designed to operate at temperatures down to – 15˚С;
- Modern products with heat pumps can be used at temperatures down to – 25˚C.
What happens in a split system operating at sub-zero temperatures?
It is known from the laws of physics that the temperature of phase displacement (transformation of gas into liquid state) is about 10˚C. It follows that at an outside temperature of +5˚C, the temperature for the heat exchanger is negative. And this causes frost on the radiator, and, accordingly, poor heat exchange with the air. Which leads to the following consequences:
- Hydraulic shock. The capacity of a frost-covered heat exchanger is insufficient for the efficient evaporation of liquid refrigerant, and it flows back to the compressor in this state. This often leads to hydraulic shock, which leads to the breakdown of the unit.
- Water getting into the circuit and burning out the electric motors. The compressor and fan in the external unit work periodically, and in winter when they are stopped they cool down, and ice forms on them inside. And this, firstly, can lead to them jamming during start-up, which will cause the motors to burn out.
Secondly, the thawed ice gets into the freon line, which will immediately cause a failure in the operation of the entire system with negative consequences.
To sum up, it should be noted that the operation of climate control equipment in winter is highly undesirable, but if you do start it, then only in a winter heating kit.
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General rules for repairing air conditioners
Before repair, it is necessary to disconnect the air conditioner from the power grid using protective circuit breakers and RCDs, or simply by pulling the plug out of the socket. In addition, split system repair is carried out when the necessary conditions are met:
- Use special and serviceable tools for installation and repair of air conditioners ;
- All repair work must be carried out with the equipment switched off;
- When vacuuming and filling the system with freon, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for this device;
- Observe safety precautions. If a ducted air conditioner is being repaired, then, usually, all structures with air ducts are located on the ceiling, which requires that the work be done with extreme caution.
- To measure pressure, it is recommended to use a manometric station, by means of which it is possible to determine high and low pressure. In this case, the first value should be within 16 – 19 atm., and the second about 5 atm.
If diagnostics reveal a faulty integrated circuit board, it is better to trust specialists from an electronic equipment repair organization. This is due to the fact that the board is the most expensive component in the air conditioning system, and repair errors are unacceptable here.
Conclusion
The cost of repairing air conditioners of any type depends on the following aspects:
- Type of equipment;
- Power;
- Complexity of the work performed;
- The volume of freon for the line when filling it;
- Cost of spare parts;
- Cleaning procedures for components: heat exchangers, filters, fans, etc.;
- Time of use of special equipment.
The price of air conditioner repair is also affected by the adjustment of devices. And when calling a technician, the remoteness of the service center is taken into account.