Easy Ways to Troubleshoot: 5 Most Common Central AC and Mini-Split Issues

With temperatures rising nationwide alongside our everchanging Albertan weather, we want to stay comfortable and cool while keeping our bills as low as possible—and the best way to do that is by making sure your air conditioning systems are working the way they should!

Aside from regular maintenance, we noticed that we receive calls for a few common problems with central air conditioning systems and with mini-split AC systems (sometimes referred to as a “ductless AC” or “heat pump AC”). To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of easy ways to troubleshoot and solve your cooling woes that you can do all on your own at home! Let’s dive into 5 of the most common issues with central AC as well as 5 common issues with mini-splits—and what to do before they get worse so you can catch problems early and avoid costly repairs.

Spoiler alert: almost all solutions involve checking the filters!

Central Air Conditioners – 5 Common Problems and How to Troubleshoot or Solve Them

1. Symptom: My AC runs all the time, but my home won’t cool!

Solution:

• First, you’ll want to go through all the options available for your system, such as ensuring you’re on the COOL setting rather than just ON (it’s more common than you think!)
• Next, make sure your windows and doors are closed, but your vents are open and not blocked—especially if it’s hotter outside than inside!
• If your AC is still running nonstop, check the air filter for your furnace! This is especially true if it’s dirty AND you don’t remember the last time you looked at it, because we’ve all been there.
• Another tip you can try at home is to clear any debris from your outdoor condenser unit, as it may be disrupting the efficiency of your system.

If you still have the issue, it may be a sign of something more serious, such as a refrigerant leak or another problem. It’s time to call a technician to help!

 2. Symptom: My AC is making a lot of noise!

Solution:

• Check the filter first and foremost, because blocked airflow can sound quite dramatic!
• While air conditioners tend to make a certain amount of acceptable noise including clicks, clunks, squeals, shudders, and even gurgles, if you hear something alarming, such as a loud screeching or grinding, you’ll want to turn it off and call a professional right away to prevent further damage!

TIP! Take a video (WITH audio) of the sound and send it to us at customer@prosolutionsinc.ca! You can also write down when the sound happened along with some useful information like description of the sound, the weather at the time, and where you hear it to help your technician diagnose the issue.

3. Symptom: I smell smoke from my AC, but there’s no fire?

Solution:

• Check your filters! A clogged filter can affect the air quality, so check that first—especially if you haven’t changed the filters regularly (or even thought about them…). Change or clean your filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and hopefully the issue is resolved.
• If you have clean filters but you still smell cigarette smoke from your AC, an easy solution is to stop smoking inside and ensure you smoke farther away from your system, even outdoors, because central AC systems circulate the air in your home, meaning it will pick up odours from one area and carry it to others.
• …Which leads us to funky smells coming from your central AC. While it may be an easy solution if you can find an explanation for the scent, it can also be a reason to check with a professional if you can’t find the source. This is especially true if you notice any burning, coolant, or exhaust smells—or something else you can’t explain—because this could be an urgent issue. Turn it off right away and contact us for emergency HVAC repair!

4. Symptom: My AC blows hot air, not cold!

Solution:

• Go through all your system’s options and ensure you’ve set it to COOL rather than ON (we’ll be honest and admit we’ve done that before!). Hopefully that solves the issue, but if not…
• Then it’s time to check your filters! A regular schedule with changing or cleaning filters will ensure adequate air flow, keeping your system working efficiently and cooling as it should. Remember to check your manufacturer’s instructions!
• If the AC still blows hot air instead of cool air, another thing you can do at home is to check the circuit breaker. It may have tripped; tripping may mean your air handler will continue working, but it will only work with warm air until you reset the breaker.

Still no luck? It’s time to check in with your technician because you may have a bigger problem, such as a leak!

5. Symptom: Every time the AC turns on, it trips my circuit breaker!

Solution:

If the AC keeps tripping the circuit breaker, the first thing is to STOP resetting it in case that causes further damage!

Next, change or clean the filter (of course) according to your manufacturer’s instructions, then try cleaning the outdoor condenser with care, removing any debris that may be obstructing the system. Clogged filters and blocked condensers can reduce the efficiency of your system, causing it to work harder than it needs to, so hopefully this fixes the issue.

If these suggestions don’t work, it’s usually a sign of a bigger problem. To minimize further damage and avoid costly repairs, it’s time to bring in a professional—and do not continue resetting the breaker!

Mini-Splits (Also Referred to as Ductless Air Conditioners, Heat Pump Systems): 5 Common Problems and How to Troubleshoot or Solve Them

1. Symptom: My AC won’t blow cold air!

Solution:

• First, check that your thermostat is working, then check that it’s set to COOL rather than HEAT. This happens to us more often than we care to admit, so it’s okay—we won’t tell anyone!
• If that still doesn’t work, think very hard to when you last checked your filters. Be honest with yourself…then, change them (or clean them) according to your manufacturer’s guidelines.
• Finally, something else you can do at home is to check your condenser and give it a clean, removing visible debris and carefully cleaning the unit. Clogged filters and condensers can reduce efficiency of your system, so hopefully this solves the problem.

If your AC still blows warm air, it could be a sign of something bigger, such as a refrigerant leak or a condenser clog that requires a professional.

2. Symptom: My AC is leaking water!

Solution:

• How’s the filter? A clogged or flooded filter could cause freezing, which results in ice building up and the melting, thus leaking out of your unit. A simple solution would be to replace (or clean) your filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• If your mini-split AC still leaks water, it’s also possible you have a clog in your drain line; a clogged drain could cause water to back up and spill out of your unit. For this issue, we recommend calling a professional to help, especially if your system is over five years old.

3. Symptom: My mini-split smells bad!

Solution:

• If the odour is awful, like seafood or fish, then it could be a little gross…such as bacteria and contaminants of decomposing rodents or other animals in your walls or near your system. Especially if you still smell it when your mini-split system is off, it’s time to grab your detective’s magnifying glass and take a look around. You might be able to spot the source near your air handler, condenser unit, or even the heat pump. Ensure you follow your municipality’s laws with regards to handling and disposal!
• If your mini-split smells bad like musty, cheesy, like vinegar, or like sewage, it’s important to turn it off right away and give us a call right away for advice. It may be overheating or burning, or it could be mold, or something else altogether—avoid costly repairs by having a professional check it!

4. Symptom: My mini-split is making a lot of noise!

Solution:

• If the indoor air handler of the mini-split is rattling, the first thing you can do is make sure all the pieces are secured in place, such as any covers and all the screws. Loose covers or screws could rattle from the vibrations from the mini-split running, often sounding quite dramatic and sometimes scary, so hopefully it’s a simple fix of just tightening any loose bits.
• Still rattling? it’s time to check the filter! Whether it was installed or seated incorrectly or if it is clogged, these could cause rattling issues as well.

If neither of these solve your issue, it’s worth a call to your technician, because a small issue may snowball into a bigger one if internal parts come loose and knock around inside your mini-split!

NOTE: While it is common for your mini-split to make some cracking or popping sounds, or even the occasional gurgle, if the sounds continue even after the unit’s compressor has switched over, this may indicate more serious issues and warrant a call to your technician. Remember, it’s always better to save on costly repairs by catching issues early!

5. Symptom: My mini-split won’t turn on!

Solution:

• The easiest thing you can do first and foremost is to check is the remote; is it time for new batteries? Hopefully that solves the issue!
• Speaking of batteries, you can also check the power supply by checking the circuit breaker box to see if any of the breakers have tripped. Reset the breaker by switching it OFF and then back to ON.
• If the breaker does not require a reset, it’s time for our favourite solution: the filter! As you probably know by now, clogged filters can obstruct airflow, causing the system to struggle and potentially shut down. If you can’t remember the last time you checked the filters, the time is now! Take a look and replace or clean them (as instructed by the manufacturer’s guide).

Important! If your breaker continues to trip or you still experience problems after changing or cleaning the filter, it’s time to stop right away and call a professional to avoid further damage!

There you have it! 5 of our most common issues for central air conditioning systems and mini-splits, and how you can troubleshoot at home—and when you want to give us a call instead. Remember to always change (or clean) your filters, and schedule your maintenance services to prevent costly repairs. Regular maintenance is key! A lot of these issues can be prevented simply by maintaining regular care of your AC system so that it runs well to keep you comfortable all year round. 

Interested in installing an air conditioning system for the summer? Check out our AC installation services or even our ductless AC installation services! 

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