The duration and correctness of the operation of cooling devices depends on the quality of the factory assembly, manufacturer and installation. The presence of defects and errors at one of the stages leads to the failure of the air conditioner ahead of time. It is dangerous to buy goods from unverified sellers, entrust the installation to beginners or independently carry out the installation of equipment without experience and theoretical knowledge.
If the split system starts to malfunction in the form of insufficient cooling, frequent shutdowns or failures to start, you need to call the wizard to inspect the outdoor and indoor units and troubleshoot.
Repair of equipment begins only after diagnostics, so as not to increase the cost of the air conditioner and not throw away good parts.
Self-diagnosis of the air conditioner
Diagnostics of the air conditioning system begins before the arrival of the master, since usually failures begin for simple reasons that do not require special skills and equipment. The failure of the device sometimes occurs not due to a breakdown of refrigeration equipment, but due to a power failure.
Air conditioners of leading brands of manufacturers are equipped with various security systems that give a signal in case of violation of working conditions. This avoids serious damage and reduces the cost of repairing the air conditioner.
Diagnostic steps:
- Check the battery power in the remote control. There may be insufficient power to transmit a signal to the device.
- Make sure the outlet is working. To do this, plug in another electrical appliance. If it does not work, call an electrician, and switch the air conditioner to another point of supply of electricity through an extension cord.
- Check the operation mode and settings of the air conditioner. In spring, people often forget to switch from heating to cooling. The temperature sensor sends a signal to the split system that the desired temperature has been reached and there is no need to work. The device turns off immediately after switching on.
- The appearance of an unpleasant odor from the indoor unit is a sign of bacterial growth. You need to rinse the filter, vacuum the insides and buy an antiseptic for air conditioners. This simple work can completely solve the problem.
- If condensation is running down the walls, the drain pipe is clogged. This usually happens when the equipment is turned off for the whole winter, and in the fall insects hide in the tube and hibernate there. If the outdoor unit is within reach, you can clean the drain pipe by yourself.
If all the measures taken did not help to solve the problem, you need to invite specialists.
Typical problems
Split system diagnostics is not only about checking the operation of the device itself. Malfunctions can occur due to power surges due to a break in the neutral. They will continue until the house is repaired to restore the power grid and phase balance. It is recommended to temporarily install a transformer to protect all household appliances. It is not recommended to engage in such work without experience, because the problem is on the electrical panel, in the case of which voltage remains, and there is a risk of getting a fatal discharge. You need to have access to technical documentation at home in order to understand the system and not aggravate the situation.
It is not recommended to repair the compressor yourself, as it is associated with the disassembly of the outdoor unit, which may be far from the balcony. It is necessary to call the masters with the necessary tools and equipment. Compressor breakdowns are associated with leaks and untimely filling of the system with freon, due to which the system overheats, works hard for some time, and then breaks down.
During the flowering season of poplars, the outer lattice is clogged with fluff. It is an excellent sealant that seals off heat dissipation and causes the compressor to overheat to unacceptable temperatures.
Untimely cleaning of the system leads to seizure of the compressor, after which it needs to be replaced. The price of a new compressor is half the cost of the entire split system.
One of the common problems is fan jamming. Occurs due to clogging by branches after a storm or the accumulation of dirt on the blades. The repair consists in unscrewing the protective grill and freeing the fan. Additionally, the master washes all the parts of the outdoor unit, vacuums and collects everything back.
If the indicators show a drop in pressure in the refrigerant circulation system, then the circuit is damaged or a break in the line. Sometimes repairs in an apartment are done by non-professionals who drill holes in the walls, not caring about the communications passing there - electrical wires or copper pipes through which freon flows. If during installation the line was pressurized with nitrogen, a loud bang will occur, which indicates the release of freon outside the line. Do not turn on the air conditioner after that. If specialists are called in within a short time, serious damage can be avoided. Using the sounds described, the craftsmen will locate the hole, disassemble the wall and solder the pipe.
Freon leaks and freezing of the heat exchanger are also eliminated by the service center specialists. Leakage may be due to a factory defect.
If the equipment is under warranty, it is not profitable to do the work yourself for financial reasons: the wrong actions will aggravate the problem, and the company will refuse to pay for the work of employees.
Instruments used to measure the amount of refrigerant lost by the air conditioner:
- digital scales;
- Digital Thermometer;
- gauge station.
Depending on the brand of refrigerant, you only need to add a certain amount of liquid or that part of it that is subject to the greatest evaporation.
Prevention and prevention of air conditioner breakdowns
The basic rule is to clean the system in time and prevent the compressor from overheating. Overheating reasons:
- contamination of the indoor and outdoor unit;
- untimely replacement of filters and lubricants;
- turning on the air conditioner for heating at subzero temperatures;
- lack of refrigerant in the system.
All rules are described in the instructions. When the performance of a split system decreases, you need to read the manufacturer's recommendations and remember what was written that was not performed by the user. Most often, breakdowns are caused by non-observance of operating rules or a factory defect.
It is recommended to conclude a contract for regular maintenance of home climatic devices, then the masters themselves will call and remind you of the need for a scheduled inspection.
