4 min read
Some AC problems can wait for the next service. These cannot — each one indicates a fault that gets more expensive the longer the system runs with it.
The breaker trips when the AC starts
This indicates an electrical fault or a compressor drawing excessive current. Repeatedly resetting the breaker risks damaging both the unit and the circuit. Stop using the system and have it tested.
Ice anywhere on the unit
Ice on the indoor coil or the copper pipework means either severely restricted airflow or low refrigerant. Continuing to run the unit in that state can allow liquid refrigerant to reach the compressor, which is a serious failure.
A burning or electrical smell
Switch the system off at the isolator. A burning smell suggests overheating wiring, a motor or a control board, and is a safety issue rather than a comfort one.
Short cycling
Starting and stopping every few minutes wears the compressor rapidly. Causes include refrigerant problems, control faults and, in ducted systems, airflow restriction.
Cooling that has faded over weeks
A gradual decline is the classic signature of a slow refrigerant leak or progressive coil fouling. Both are far cheaper to address before the system fails completely in peak summer.