Hard Starting in an AC: What It Is, How to Fix It

Hard starting is a common issue that can happen for air conditioners, causing it to struggle and create an odd noise or two. If you hear clicking or buzzing sounds coming from your AC, this could indicate that you’re having a problem with hard starting.

Hard starting often requires air conditioning repair in Conway, AR. if left unchecked, it can lead to serious problems down the line including system failure. Let’s take a closer look at hard starting, what causes it, and how to stop it in its tracks.

Condenser Coils Are Dirty

If your condenser coils are dirty and coated in a thick layer of dust, they’re insulated (and they’re not supposed to be). It restricts airflow to the compressor on start-up.

Cleaning these off isn’t a huge task, but it is extremely important in ensuring that your AC doesn’t face hard starting. It’s trying its best, but it needs a helping hand.

Loose Electrical Connections

We don’t recommend that you go into your air conditioner’s electrical system and try to jiggle wires around. That being said, a technician can apply their expert-level knowledge to see if any of the electrical connections are loose or have come out for whatever reason.

This is also a good time to inspect the AC’s electrical system as a whole because it might have issues with overvoltage to one area, or is wasting power in some fashion. It can’t hurt to check.

Possibility of a Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant leaks will cause massive damage to your air conditioner. Once it starts leaking (which is an entire problem in its own right), the refrigerant levels become a lot lower than the acceptable level.

Without enough refrigerant, your AC can freeze up and cause massive strain on plenty of components. It’s like trying to spin your tires when the hood of your car is stuck in a snowbank. It just won’t work.

You May Need to Replace the Compressor

We know you don’t want to hear this, but the compressor might just be shot at this point. If it’s worn out or damaged, it won’t kick on when you start up your AC. The fan may run indoors, but there won’t be any cooled air coming out of your vents.

If a technician has tried every other option to fix your AC, but to no avail, it might be time to replace the compressor. This is one of the more expensive repairs you’ll come across with your air conditioner, but if all goes well, you won’t have to replace the compressor any time in the near future. Fingers crossed.

It Doesn’t Have to Be Hard

Hard starting is a problem, but with the right fix, it doesn’t have to plague you for long. While it can lead to some expensive repairs, you can’t exactly have your air conditioner fail on you instead. Talk to us today and we’ll discuss the next steps for your AC repair.

Contact Dewees HVAC today to schedule your AC repair as soon as possible.