Why doesn't the air conditioner cool?

What determines the cooling capacity of an air conditioner?

Cooling capacity is the main characteristic of an air conditioner, which determines the efficiency of the climate control equipment. The cooling power parameter is selected taking into account the area of the room where the device will be installed. For the calculation, the following formula is taken: per 10 sq. m of room with ceilings no more than 3 meters - 1 kW of cooling power.

Now let's look at how to determine whether the cooling of the air conditioner has really deteriorated and whether there is a need for repair work, or whether such an assessment of the performance of the device turned out to be biased.

The cooling capacity of climate control systems largely depends on the outside air temperature. An efficient air conditioner will provide the optimal air temperature indoors, the difference of which can be 8-12 or more. If the difference in temperature outside and in the room where the air conditioner is operating is less than this parameter, then we can conclude that the split equipment is faulty.

The air conditioner does not cool due to external factors

If the air conditioner operates almost continuously, but the temperature does not drop to the set point, first check whether external factors are hindering the operation of the unit:

the room is poorly insulated - warm air constantly comes from the street, and cooled air goes outside,
furniture or curtains (blinds) prevent normal air circulation,
The power of the device does not meet the needs (not enough to effectively cool a large area).

If the reason is poor insulation, ensure that air is taken exclusively from the room, prevent its leakage to the outside (as far as possible in principle): close windows and doors more tightly. In rooms with repair defects, there may be large gaps that need to be repaired. Remove obstructions to air flow.

If the reason is insufficient power, replace the air conditioner and use this one in a smaller room.

Cleanliness is the key to warmth

It happens that the air conditioner heats well, but the airflow is poor. A possible reason is clogged filters. They are located under the front panel. Open it by pulling the two tabs on the edges and check their condition. If necessary, remove and wash them with dishwashing detergent.

If the air conditioner blows well, but the temperature is insufficient, the evaporator radiator may be clogged. It is located in the indoor unit of the air conditioner. This problem often occurs with appliances installed in kitchens.

It's easy to check its condition - open the front panel by pulling the two latches on the edges. Then remove the filters - underneath there is a radiator. If it is dirty, clean it with a brush. If there is greasy or hard deposits on the grill, use dishwashing liquid. Read more about cleaning in the article “How to clean an air conditioner at home yourself - step-by-step instructions.”

Preliminary diagnosis of why the air conditioner does not cool

Before looking for problems with air conditioning units, it is worth understanding the possible external causes of the appearance of warm air and conducting preliminary diagnostics.

Duration of work. Cooling the air in the room after turning on the air conditioner takes a certain time. This does not happen at lightning speed - for a noticeable effect it should take from 10 to 20 minutes. The time interval is determined by the initial air temperature, the temperature at the external unit, the volume of the room and the power of the air conditioner.
Correct selection of power and operating conditions. A low-power air conditioner cannot cope with cooling a spacious room that is well heated on a hot day. When choosing, you should look beyond the peak load and choose equipment with a small power reserve.
Not an isolated room. Cooling efficiency is reduced if there is an influx of warm air from the outside through doors and windows that are not closed, or a forced outflow of cold air, for example, through a ventilation system.
Obstacles to air circulation. Curtains, decorative elements, furniture or blinds placed in the path of air movement disrupt its circulation and interfere with cooling.

Operating an air conditioner for heating in winter

In order for the split system to work correctly, it is important to comply with a number of conditions:

Follow the temperature conditions specified by the manufacturers.
Do not try to cover the outdoor unit with a cover to keep it warm.
Turn on the device at the specified starting temperature, and not at the temperature that is permitted for operation (indicated in the instructions).

For our latitudes, the best solution is to use air conditioning in the off-season (at temperatures from 0 and above), until the central heating is turned on. In this case, the efficiency of the split system is maximum, there is no risk of breakdown due to low temperatures.

If you have any questions about using the air conditioner in winter or have problems with its operation, please call +7 and +7 (495) 766-29-82.

Reasons why the air conditioner does not cool

Before troubleshooting your air conditioner, check for external causes not related to the equipment. In addition to the cooling capacity of the air conditioner itself, room cooling is affected by:

Operating time of climate control equipment. Customers often forget that when the air conditioner turns on, it does not instantly cool the air in the room. It takes 10, 15, 20 minutes to noticeably lower the temperature. Depending on the size of the room, the temperature outside and inside and the power of the split system.
Correspondence of the power of the split system to external parameters. Naturally, a low-power air conditioner will not be able to significantly cool a spacious room when it is hot outside and the room is very warm. When choosing equipment, it is often overlooked that the load can be peak, and the air conditioner must be taken with a reserve of “strength”.
Isolation of the room. The air conditioner in the apartment will not cool well if there are “holes in the airtightness” of the room: open windows, doors, a working ventilation system. Additional heat inflow from outside or forced outflow of cold air from the room are the reasons that lead to poor cooling.
“Blocked” air inlet or outlet is another reason. Obstacles in the form of curtains, blinds, and furniture interfere with normal air circulation and, as a result, cooling.

If there is enough power, the entrance and exit are free, the windows and doors are closed and enough time has passed, but it has not become cooler, then it is necessary to diagnose the equipment. Simply put, measure the air temperature at the air conditioner inlet and outlet.

The indoor unit is not working correctly

The indoor unit is located indoors. It consists of many components that must work together. If one of the parts fails, the air conditioner will cool late. Sometimes the breakdown cannot be determined by ear, so you still have to call a specialist for diagnostics.

List of common indoor unit malfunctions:

the connection between the indoor and outdoor units is lost;
the compressor has overloaded or failed;
the control board has failed or is not working correctly;
temperature sensors have failed or are not working correctly;
the valves are faulty;
insufficient voltage in the electrical network;

What problems with air conditioner cooling can you solve yourself?

Some air conditioner malfunctions that cause poor air cooling can be eliminated yourself.
What problems can be solved without the help of a specialist:

Dirty filters can be cleaned. To remove them, you need to open the lid of the indoor unit, remove the filters and rinse them under cold running water. After a little drying, the filters are installed in place. Now you can start the air conditioner and check its performance.
A dirty heat exchanger can be cleaned in different ways: with a steam cleaner, a high-pressure washer or special chemicals. If difficulties arise, call service.
The owner can also clean the dirty indoor unit fan himself using a brush or high-pressure washer.
If the cause of the malfunction is a clogged capillary tube, it must be cleaned by blowing or pressing. If the tube is clogged with moisture, cleaning is carried out using a vacuum method.

A fur coat in summer is bad

In order for an air conditioner to work effectively, it must dissipate heat well through the outdoor unit. A radiator is used for these purposes. Over time, it becomes dirty, dirt, dust, and poplar fluff settle on it.

They create a kind of “fur coat”. Because of it, the radiator does not give off heat well and the air conditioner begins to cool the room poorly. The easiest way is to wash the radiator of the outdoor unit using regular dishwashing detergent.

Be sure to check if the fan is working. If it spins slowly or even stands still, then even a clean radiator will not be able to transfer heat. You can replace the fan motor, but it is better to call a specialist. You can find a good master on the portal for finding private specialists .

What problems with air conditioner cooling cannot be solved without professional help?

In all other cases, problems with air conditioner cooling cannot be avoided without the help of professional technicians. Specialists will conduct diagnostics and determine the exact cause of the breakdown. If necessary, they will refuel with freon. If a refrigerant leak is detected, it is sealed.

A broken compressor, condenser, fan, as well as pressure and temperature sensors must be repaired or completely replaced with new parts. It all depends on the malfunction and the price of the issue.

Don't ignore the problem of poor air conditioning. Minor faults can be easily fixed without requiring large expenditures. But if you ignore the fact of ineffective operation of the device, you can expect serious breakdowns, the repair of which will have to cost a lot of money.

Follow the operating rules and timely perform technical inspections of climate control devices. Experienced specialists from the service center will always help you solve this problem.

Sources:

https://rembitteh.ru/hozyayke-na-zametku/kondicioner-ne-holodit-duet-teplym-vozduhom/
https://vsekondicioneri.ru/blog/konditsioner-perestal-okhlazhdat-prichiny-kak-ispravit/
https://gk-promholod.ru/stati/kondiczioner-ne-xolodit/
https://intelclimate.ru/services/konditsionirovanie/remont-condicionerov/articles/tepliy-vozduh-iz-condicionera

And the casket just opened

In 80% of cases, the cause of poor air conditioner performance is dust and dirt. Most often, the mesh filter gets clogged, which is easy to clean yourself. Simply remove it, wash it thoroughly and replace it.

This is how the air conditioner filter is removed.

If the filter is heavily soiled, you will immediately feel the airflow speed increase. Usually this is enough to restore the air conditioner's performance. But if nothing significant has happened, it’s worth cleaning it thoroughly. We wrote about this in the article “How to clean the air conditioner at home yourself - step-by-step instructions.”