Skip to main content

We provide HVAC contracting for residential new home construction at Sunrise Service, LLC.


Sweat the Small Stuff: Identifying and Fixing Minor AC Issues Before They Become Major Problems

April 30, 2024
owner headshot white background
Written by

In the labyrinth of home comfort, your air conditioning system plays the hero, warding off the heat with a shield of cool, refreshing air. Yet, like any valiant knight, it faces its dragons in the form of minor issues that, left unchecked, can escalate into major problems, leading to discomfort and costly repairs.

These foes range from the subtle whisper of refrigerant leaks to the more obvious distress of an AC unit refusing to turn on. By arming yourself with the knowledge of how to identify and address these minor issues, you ensure your home remains a sanctuary of comfort.

Identifying the Early Signs of Refrigerant Leaks

Embarking on a journey through the labyrinth of AC maintenance, it’s crucial to pay attention to the whispering signs of trouble, such as the elusive refrigerant leaks—a common adversary in the realm of air conditioning skirmishes.

These treacherous leaks play hide and seek, yet their presence sends ripples through the efficiency and operation of your system.

To arm yourself effectively, you must learn to spot the physical manifestations on the battlefield, tune your ears to the unusual hissing that betrays the leaks’ positions, scrutinize your cooling performance for any signs of weakening, and vigilantly observe your energy bills for unwarranted escalations.

By mastering these skills, you become a guardian of comfort, preventing small breaches from spiraling into full-blown sieges against your AC’s functionality.

Spotting the Physical Signs of Leaks

As the custodian of your cooling fortress, spotting the early machinations of a refrigerant leak requires a keen eye, as these villains often manifest physically with stealth. Look for the telltale frost or ice on the air conditioner’s evaporator coils or pipes that seem to wear winter’s coat even in the blaze of summer. Additionally, pools of water or mysterious moisture around your AC unit might whisper the secrets of a refrigerant leak, betraying its presence with silent drips and damp patches:

  • Ice or frost on the evaporator coils or pipes
  • Unexplained moisture or pools of water near the unit

The Importance of Regular Maintenance to Prevent AC Issues

In the battlefield of maintaining ideal home comfort, adopting a proactive stance is your best armor. Regular maintenance, often overlooked in the hustle of daily life, stands as the stalwart guardian against the encroachment of AC troubles.

By scheduling professional inspections, you ensure a trained eye scrutinizes every nook and cranny of your system, from the whispering hints of wear in moving parts to the silent buildup of inefficiency.

Replacing filters not only breathes new life into your AC’s lungs, optimizing airflow but also serves as a simple yet profound step towards sustaining a robust system.

Delving deeper, cleaning coils and fans emerges as a critical tactic in enhancing efficiency; this act sweeps away the dust and debris, allowing your unit to breathe freely and perform at its peak.

Scheduling Professional Inspections

Embarking on the quest to defend your castle of comfort against the siege of AC woes, scheduling professional inspections emerges as a decisive move on the chessboard of home maintenance. By inviting a seasoned HVAC knight to survey the hidden corners and whispering vents of your air conditioning system, you ensure that no potential issue, no matter how minute, escapes the vigilant eyes of experience. This act of foresight not only bolsters your defense against the onslaught of breakdowns but also fortifies the efficiency and longevity of your climate control sanctuary.

Troubleshooting Electric Control Failures in AC Systems

Identifying symptoms such as erratic behavior, unresponsive interfaces, or complete system shutdown becomes imperative.

The steps to regain control include resetting your AC unit’s electrical connections, a simple yet effective maneuver akin to turning the page to a fresh start.

Likewise, testing control panel functionalities ensure each component plays its part perfectly while verifying the battery life in remote controls guards against unexpected silences.

These tasks, though seemingly minor, are crucial in maintaining the seamless operation of your air conditioning system, allowing you to preemptively address issues before they crescendo into major disruptions.

Addressing AC Sensor Problems Before They Worsen

In the intricacies of maintaining an efficient air conditioning system, focusing on seemingly minor components, such as the AC sensor, proves pivotal in preventing larger issues. As the conductor of your AC’s symphony, the thermostat sensor plays a vital role in maintaining the balance between too much and too little, ensuring your comfort is just right.

Discovering the exact placement of this sensor, finessing its position for more accurate readings, diligently cleaning it to keep operations smooth, and rigorously testing the AC cycles after any adjustments, are crucial steps in this balancing act.

Treating these tasks with the importance they deserve means safeguarding against the quieter, yet potentially disruptive AC challenges that lurk beneath the surface, waiting to disrupt the harmony of your home’s climate.

Preventing and Fixing Common Drainage Issues

Turning our focus to the lifeblood of your air conditioning system—the drainage pathway—underscores the importance of vigilance in spotting and addressing drainage issues before they cascade into a torrent of complications.

The damp, unseen corners where moisture collects are often overlooked until minor issues burgeon into major headaches.

Identifying blockages in the drain line, cleaning the drain pan and line, installing a condensate pump for improved water flow, and embedding regular maintenance checks for the drainage system into your routine are pivotal strategies.

These steps not only protect the structural integrity of your home from water damage but also ensure the seamless functionality of your air conditioning system, keeping the air cool and the environment dry.

Why ACs Run Constantly and How to Fix It

As your air conditioning unit embarks on its endless marathon, tirelessly combating the sweltering heat, it’s pivotal to decipher why it refuses to take a well-deserved rest. An AC unit that runs incessantly, much like a river flowing without pause, can signal minor issues poised to burgeon into colossal concerns if left unchecked.

Solving the Mystery of an AC Not Turning On

Verifying power sources and circuit breakers offers the initial clue to this puzzle, ensuring that electricity’s lifeline to your unit remains uninterrupted.

Diving deeper, inspecting thermostat settings and batteries reveals whether the command center of your cooling system is in alignment or lost in translation. A visual inspection for damages on the unit itself might display telltale signs of distress, pointing towards external factors affecting performance.

Ensuring Cool Airflow and Preventing Hot Air Emissions

A meticulous inspection and cleaning of the evaporator coil stand as vital, preventing a coat of grime from stifling its efficiency. Navigating the ebb and flow of your system’s lifeblood, the refrigerant, and checking for its proper levels ensures your AC’s heartbeat remains robust and rhythmic.

Lastly, maintaining a clear and unobstructed dominion for your outdoor unit allows it to exhale heat with ease, unencumbered by the stranglehold of foliage or detritus. Together, these elements weave a tapestry of maintenance, ensuring your sanctuary remains an oasis of cool tranquility amidst the searing tempest outside.

Owner's headshot green background
About The Author
Eric Thomas

Follow Sunrise Service, LLC!

Discover the Sunrise Difference

Proudly serving Las Vegas & nearby areas.


Since 1993, Sunrise Service, LLC. has established a reputation for satisfied customers and high referrals within the residential and commercial HVAC and plumbing industry, ensuring quality solutions tailored to your unique needs. If you want the job done right the first time, call us at (702) 568-5300.

Customer Reviews

what OUR community is saying about US


Green google 5-star Icon

I was glad that Sunrise Service, LLC came to the rescue to fix our AC unit. Not only was a tune-up given but Jose (Sunrise employee) was also able to clearly explain what exactly went wrong with it. Thank you Jose.

Carlos Alvarado
Green google 5-star Icon

Whole experience could not be better.From martin in service ,cody in sales, jose & javier installation, they know their job and do it very well with customer needs and satisfaction their priority! This is a quality company and would highly recommend!!

Paul Chimino
Green google 5-star Icon

Glad I made the decision to call Sunrise AC. Cody responded very quickly. His quote was very fair. The installers did a great job installing the new units. We are very happy with the work. We highly recommend this company. Ask for Cody, he will lead you in the right direction.

JoAnn C
Green google 5-star Icon

We could not be more pleased with Mike H. who did our fall furnace maintenance and Kevin who did our first plumbing maintenance. I would like these same employees for my next maintenance service. Very professional, great attitudes, helpful with questions and pleasant to work with.

Ron Stueve
Green google 5-star Icon

Jose has been doing semi annual maintenance and any necessary repairs on my units for years. He is dedicated, very experienced, and conscientious. Hat is also off to Mike, his manager. I have been using Sunrise for more than 15 years. Strongly recommended.

R Sullivan

    Schedule Service