Do-it-yourself air conditioner repair: causes of breakdowns and solutions

Air conditioners, like all appliances, eventually fail or fail completely. To eliminate serious breakdowns, it is inevitable to turn to professionals. But some problems in the operation of the equipment can be dealt with on their own, saving money and time.

Preliminary diagnostics

Before proceeding with repair work, it is necessary to find out the cause of the malfunction of the equipment. This will help you plan your next steps and make the right decision.

The procedure for diagnosing a split system:

1. Inspect the instrument for external damage.
2. Check the condition and integrity of electrical connections and blocks.
3. Remove and clean filters.
4. Test the operation of the indication system and the operation of the unit in various modes.
5. Make sure the connections are tight.
6. Check the correct operation of the blinds, the temperature of the evaporator.

Many models of air conditioners have a built-in indicator with a changing color or a different flashing frequency.It helps to accurately determine the cause of incorrect operation of the equipment without professional diagnostics.

Information about the causes of elimination and how to eliminate them can be found in the user manual. If the instructions do not list all types of breakdowns, contact the consultants of the outlet where the air conditioner was purchased.

Types of breakdowns and methods for their elimination

After the diagnosis, you can proceed directly to the repair. For effective repair, you need to know what types of malfunctions generally exist, and how to correctly eliminate them.

Air conditioner does not turn on

The cause of the failure is an electrical problem. There may be a malfunction in the functioning of the control board or communication between the outdoor and indoor units is lost. If the air conditioner does not wake up from sleep mode, then the problem is in the settings.

Appearance of water droplets or condensation

Increased moisture release is the result of improper use of equipment. Most often, such breakdowns appear if the split system is started in the "cold" at a low ambient temperature. This causes a blockage in the drainage system.

The second reason for the release of water is clogging of the internal radiator.

To restore the correct operation of the equipment, do the following:

1. In the cold season, warm up the channel. This will help if the ice plug has not yet formed in it. The optimum heating temperature is +7 O
2. When a cork appears, it is better to wait for the onset of heat. This will allow the ice to dissolve on its own.
3. Flush the drain with water when using a pump or compressor installations.

Do not operate the air conditioner if the drain is clogged.From this, the liquid will flow out of the case, which will lead to damage to the interior and complete failure of the entire system.

Clogged filters

Regular cleaning of coarse and fine filters is a prerequisite for preventing air conditioner breakdowns. Dust and fluff accumulated on the grids disrupt air circulation, lead to overheating of the case, and reduce the efficiency of the system.

Clogging can be determined by visual inspection or by uncharacteristic noise while the air conditioner is running. Also, this problem is indicated by insufficient air cooling with a properly configured device.

The filters are removed from the air conditioner after opening the front panel. Rinse them under running water. To remove stubborn dirt, use a medium-hard brush. After washing, dry the filters and return them to their place.

Unpleasant odor from running system

The appearance of fetid odors from the air conditioner housing may indicate the following breakdowns:

• The smell of burning - a clear sign of a short circuit and ignition of the wiring. The air conditioner must be immediately turned off and the wizard should be called. If the appliance is in operation, it may cause a fire.
• The smell of plastic - usually such "aromas" exude poor quality, acquired at a low price. Even experts will not help eliminate such odors. Over time, they may disappear on their own.
• The smell of damp - this indicates the formation of bacteria and fungi inside the body. They can be destroyed by treatment with an antifungal agent. It is diluted in water and washed with all the internal parts of the air conditioner.

Custom sounds

The operating air conditioner makes a uniform, quiet noise, which is quite natural.But in the event of a breakdown, the split system begins to “sound” strange.

By the nature of the noise emitted, you can determine the nature of the breakdown:

• Uneven hum of the outdoor unit. Such a sound occurs when the internal filling is clogged. The fan sounds especially loud, on the blades of which dirt has settled. Sometimes uneven noise indicates a breakdown of one of the blades. High-quality internal cleaning or replacement of the fan will solve the problem.

Uneven hum of the outdoor unit

• Gurgling. Such a sound does not always indicate a breakdown. But if it is distributed constantly for several days, it is worth diagnosing. Gurgling can occur when air enters the drain tube. In this case, the formed condensate does not have time to flow out and accumulates in the tube. Installing the tube at the right angle helps to fix the problem.
• squelching. This sound appears if the air conditioner units are poorly fixed. It will help to tightly tighten all fasteners and tubes. The outdoor unit must be set using the building level.

If clicks are periodically heard during operation, it means that the automation does not work correctly. It is possible to change parts on your own only if you have special knowledge in the field of electrical engineering.

The air conditioner does not produce cold well

This is especially noticeable problem on hot days. The air conditioner is on full blast but the room is still hot.

Possible reasons for poor performance of the device:

• Clogged air filters. In this case, the air conditioner housing overheats, and the automatic shutdown is activated.
• freon leak. The reason for the loss of refrigerant is the flaring of the connections between the blocks or a hole in the tubes.In this case, you have to constantly fill the system with freon. If this is not done, its level will drop to critical levels and the device will fail. It is easy to notice the flaring: on the fittings of the external unit, if it is present, frost, ice or oil stains appear under the taps.

• Air conditioning not adapted for winter. This often happens with devices from Asian manufacturers. The air temperature in these countries does not fall below +7 degrees, therefore, in severe winter conditions, such units cannot work. During the changeover from cooling to heating mode, an ice block forms inside the drainage system and the condensate flow stops. The system starts to overheat, and may soon break down. The installation of an additional kit for heating in the winter helps to solve the problem.
• Ice on the outdoor unit. It is formed if the air conditioner is turned on for heating at high humidity and significant sub-zero temperatures. To prevent icing, it is necessary to equip the device with an auto-defrost system. If this is not installed, the air conditioner must be switched to cooling mode and wait for defrosting. In general, experts do not recommend turn the air conditioner onwhen the outside temperature drops below minus 10 degrees. This thickens the oil and increases equipment wear.

When to Call a Service Center

If the air conditioner does not work due to a breakdown of one of the internal components, it will not be possible to repair it yourself. Repair of the board, compressor, diagnostics of the route, refueling of freon and other actions related to the analysis of equipment and the replacement of parts should be performed by professionals.

When to Call a Service Center

Even with a repair manual, it is impossible to carry out the work correctly without special knowledge and training, the necessary spare parts and special equipment. Remember that replacing a part is always cheaper than buying a new air conditioner to replace an inept repairman spoiled by inept actions.

You will have to contact the service center if you need:

Safety rules for operation and repair

Prolonging the life of any device helps to follow the rules for its operation and maintenance.

It is also important to remember your own safety when working with electrical appliances:

• turn off the air conditioner from the network during inspection and maintenance;
• use differential protection devices for connection;
• keep children away from the device, especially when it is running;
• carefully carry out maintenance work on the equipment;
• eliminate all faults immediately after the appearance of the first signs of incorrect operation.

After wet cleaning dry the air conditioner completely. If you turn it on when wet, you can cause a short circuit.

User questions about hardware problems

Finally, it is worth reminding the owners of air conditioners that it is possible to eliminate minor breakdowns by disassembling the case on their own only after the end of the warranty period.

Do not rush to "touch" repair the air conditioner, not having an accurate idea of ​​​​how it is disassembled and assembled.Even experienced craftsmen had cases when they had problems with unfamiliar designs. In these situations, it is very easy to damage the blocks, which will later be impossible to repair.

Video tips for diagnosing an air conditioner