Here Are The Most Common Problems With Split Air Conditioners

Last Updated on October 3, 2024 by Rajendra Hiwale

Air conditioners have become an important part of our homes (read our AC Buying Guide For India), especially in hot and humid areas as well as polluted cities. ACs are most commonly used during summers, and that is when you would want your air conditioner to be working in perfect condition so that it doesn’t break down or fail when you need it the most. Whether it is a split AC or a window AC, each air conditioner is susceptible to breakdowns and problems if they are not serviced regularly. Today, we will talk about the most common split air conditioner problems and their possible solutions.

Most Common Split AC Problems & How You Can Fix Them

Some of the most common split AC problems arise due to irregular maintenance and most of those problems could be prevented through proper care.

1. Split AC is not Cooling

Split air conditioners are quite efficient and they do not take too long to cool down the room to the required temperature. But if your split AC is not cooling as fast as it used to earlier despite keeping it turned on for hours, then it definitely has some issues. The reason behind your AC’s slow or lack of cooling could be a dirty air filter, blocked condensate drain, or ice formation on the evaporator coils.

Clogged Air Filters

Air filters are designed to protect the AC from dust, debris, and hair. If they are not cleaned frequently (once every six months), they can get clogged and affect the AC’s cooling performance. Clogged filters also force the AC to work harder (and consume more power) to cool the same room, resulting in higher electricity bills and slower cooling. To clean or unclog an air filter, you should remove them from the split AC (follow your AC’s manual to see how it is done) and clean them using a low-power vacuum cleaner or through warm running water.

We recommend getting your air conditioner serviced twice a year for better performance and to avoid air filters getting clogged, resulting in slower cooling and higher electricity bills.

Ice Formation Around Evaporator Coils

Another possible reason for the lack of cooling could be ice formation around the evaporator coils. Ice can form on the AC’s evaporator coils if you don’t maintain your AC regularly, which also leads to the collection of dirt, dust, and fungi on the air filter and other parts of the AC. When a thin sheet of ice forms on the evaporator coils, it can’t absorb latent heat and slows down the AC’s cooling performance. To solve this issue, make sure that you clean the air filters at regular intervals. The problem should go away for most people, but if it doesn’t, we recommend calling an experienced service professional to solve the issue.

Ice can also form around the split AC’s evaporator coils when the refrigerant level drops due to gas leakage. More on that later.

Dirty Split AC Outdoor Unit

The split AC’s cooling performance can also degrade when the outdoor compressor is dirty or gets blocked by debris, stopping it from exchanging air with the indoor unit. However, there’s less chance of that happening unless there is construction work going in or around your building or there is debris around your AC’s outdoor unit. You can either clean it by spraying water with high pressure on it. However, we recommend that you get help from a professional to get it cleaned.

2. Low Refrigerant Level Or Gas Leakage

If the air conditioner is not cooling your room properly, it could be due to low refrigerant levels. Refrigerant is a fluid or gaseous compound that absorbs heat from the environment and provides air conditioning when combined with the AC’s compressor and evaporator. If the AC was undercharged with refrigerant or if there is gas leakage in your split air conditioner, it might not perform as well as it should.

This problem occurs more commonly in areas located around coastal regions or anywhere close to sewage where air pollution and humidity are high. To solve this problem, you need to check the split AC’s indoor unit, outdoor unit, and the connection between them for possible leaks. After plugging any possible leaks, you should recharge the refrigerant gas to optimum levels as prescribed in the AC’s manual. However, it is not easy to accomplish those steps, and we recommend calling a professional to solve this issue.

3. Faulty Compressor

The split AC’s compressor, which is one of its main components, is situated in the outdoor unit. It takes care of the gas flow between the evaporator and the condenser. When the compressor doesn’t function properly, the AC won’t perform up to its full potential or sometimes it doesn’t work at all. The reason could be a burned wire, a defective start capacitor, or a defective compressor itself.

To solve a faulty compressor in your split AC, you have to get the condenser coil cleaned, check the capacitor, clean the outdoor unit’s fan cleaned, and replace the compressor (if it is found to be faulty). A compressor costs anywhere between ₹6,000 and ₹10,000, depending on the AC’s brand. It is the costliest component of any AC, and to stop it from breaking down, you need to get your AC serviced regularly. In case of your brand new AC’s compressor is found to be faulty, you can get it replaced or repaired free of cost under the standard brand warranty.

4. AC Keeps Turning On & Off Constantly

If your split air conditioner keeps turning on and off by itself, it is best to switch it off till you don’t get it serviced. Most likely, the split AC’s evaporator and condenser are dirty or blocked. A dirty air filter restricts airflow, which causes more problems, including a frozen evaporator coil (as mentioned above). It is important to clean or change the air filter for better cooling and efficient performance.

Another reason behind this problem could be wrong AC mode or timer settings. Sometimes people switch to the wrong AC mode or activate the sleep timer function, which leads to the AC turning off by itself. Switch to the default mode and turn off the sleep timer to see if the problem gets solved.

Also Read: Best 1.5 Ton Split ACs To Buy In India This Summer [2021]

A split AC requires regular maintenance to keep functioning efficiently, and you can read more about how to maintain your AC in our separate article. However, not everyone has enough time or attention to remember when to get the AC serviced. So, it is a good idea to get your split air conditioner covered with Onsitego’s Comprehensive AMC Plan for Air Conditioners that includes up to two years of repair and maintenance support.

Protect Your Split AC With AMC (Annual Maintenance Contract) Plan

Apart from two years of repair and maintenance support, the AMC plan for ACs even includes two preventive maintenance visits every year, which means that you don’t have to remember getting your AC serviced, and the company’s professionals will remind you to get your AC serviced and visit your home. The Comprehensive AMC Plan for ACs includes unlimited repairs (including the cost for labour, service, and transport), free gas charging (if required), and the cost of spare parts. If anything goes wrong, you can be assured of swift and quality service.