Air Conditioning | 3 Revealing Signs Related To Air Conditioner Overheating

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Hello, I am Heidi, and this is my blog devoted to HVAC issues, repair, troubleshooting, maintenance tips and more. Before you dive into my posts, let me introduce myself. I am a mum of three kids and married to an amazing husband. I used to work in the HVAC industry, but now I spend most of my time working as an editor from my house. I needed something that offered the flexibility of staying at home with my little ones, but I miss the hands-on nature of HVAC work. In this blog, I plan to post on a variety of HVAC related topics. If you have questions or concerns, I hope these posts help you.

Air Conditioning | 3 Revealing Signs Related To Air Conditioner Overheating

10 February 2016
 Categories: , Blog


Making sure that your air conditioner is functional is vital to your existence during the hot season. You'll naturally want to turn on the air conditioning unit to enjoy some cool air when the sun blazes outside. But imagine the nightmare you have to live with if your air conditioning unit stops working or overheats in the middle of the hot and muggy weather. This is more common then you think. Here are some revealing signs related to air conditioning overheating along with some solutions on how to deal with them.

Air Filters Become Filthy

The air filter acts as a safety barrier to protect the inside of your air conditioning unit from pollutants, dirt and debris. It allows clean and cool air to properly circulate from the air conditioning unit into your room. But when air filters are filled with dirt, they will no longer perform the same robust function. They will block proper airflow, which will cause a great deal of stress and will overheat your air conditioner. This means that the unit will need to work harder and run longer to cool your home. If ignored, dirty air filters will eventually lead to a break down of your air conditioner. You can get your HVAC contractors to clean or replace the air filters, depending on their condition.

Poor Refrigerant Levels

If your air conditioning unit doesn't have enough refrigerant, it will cause overheating. If you notice that your home isn't getting cooled as quickly as before, then it's probably because of low refrigerant levels, either because it hasn't been refilled or because there is a leak somewhere. It's always best to call an HVAC professional to deal with refrigerant problems because of the complex nature of this fix. A professional will look of signs of leakage or low refrigerant and will fix the problem before it causes your air conditioner to break down.

Condenser Coils Become Soiled

Condenser coils are filled with refrigerant that runs through your air conditioning unit. If these condenser coils are soiled, then your air conditioner will run for longer, which will cause it to overheat in time. An AC condenser coil uses refrigerant to cool down indoor air by absorbing heat, while emitting the heat outside. If the condenser coils are soiled, then the refrigerant will not be able to release heat easily because dirt works as an insulator. This means that the refrigerant won't be able to absorb more heat, causing the air conditioning unit to emit tepid air. Eventually, the air conditioning unit will overheat and conk off. Your condenser coils must be regularly cleaned with special coil cleaners. You can either choose to do this yourself or you can get your HVAC contractors to take care of this job safely and professionally.

If you notice any of these signs of air conditioning unit heating, you should ideally get an HVAC contractor to tackle the problem professionally.