Air conditioners often encounter various problems during use, such as not being cold, water leakage, odor, etc. Correctly handling these issues can extend the life of your air conditioner and ensure it operates properly.
The following are some common home air conditioner problems and how to deal with them:
1. The air conditioner is not cooling
- Check the remote control and settings: Make sure the air conditioner is on and check whether the remote control settings are correct.
- Check the power supply: Make sure the plug is plugged into the outlet and check the power cord for damage.
- Clean the filter: A clogged filter will affect the performance of the air conditioner. Clean or replace the filter.
- Check the condenser and evaporator: If the condenser or evaporator has accumulated dust or dirt, cleaning them may help improve efficiency.
2. Air conditioner leaks
- Check the water tank and drain pipe: Check whether the water tank of the air conditioner is full, empty the water tank and make sure the drain pipe is clear.
- Check the drain holes: The drain holes may be clogged with dust or dirt, and cleaning them may help resolve the leak.
3. The air conditioner produces odor
- Clean the filter: A clogged filter will cause odor, clean or replace the filter.
- Eliminate mold and bacteria: Using a specialized air conditioner cleaner to clean the inside of the air conditioner can effectively eliminate odors.
4. The air conditioner makes abnormal noise during operation
- Check the position of the air conditioner: The air conditioner may be unstable or in contact with other objects, causing abnormal noise. Adjusting the position of the air conditioner may help solve the problem.
- Check the fan: The fan may have foreign objects or damage, checking the fan and cleaning or replacing the fan may help solve the problem.
5. Air conditioner remote control failure
- Replace the battery: The remote control battery may be exhausted, replacing the battery may help solve the problem.
- Reset the remote control: Pressing the reset button on the remote control may help solve the problem of the remote control.
New knowledge on air-conditioning power consumption in recent years and Taiwan climate maintenance regulations (2025-2026 current situation)
With the high temperatures in summer breaking historical records and the adjustment of electricity price structure in recent years, the latest statistics from the Energy Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs show that air-conditioning equipment accounts for more than 47% of residential electricity consumption in summer. Many people mistakenly believe that if the air conditioner is not cold, they only need to "replenish the refrigerant." However, in fact, refrigerant is not naturally consumed during normal operation in a closed circuit. If the refrigerant is insufficient, it means that there are micro leaks in the copper pipes or joints. Simply replenishing the air conditioner will only treat the symptoms but not the root cause. Refrigerant leakage will aggravate the high temperature overload of the compressor and shorten its service life.
According to Taiwan's standard operating specifications for air-conditioning projects, it is recommended that professional technicians with a refrigeration and air-conditioning decoration technician license perform "full machine high-pressure water washing and evaporator deep sterilization" every 1 to 2 years for detached air-conditioning indoor units. Especially in the humid summer in the Shuangbei Basin, the air drum and water collection tray are easy to breed black mold and jelly-like biofilm. This is also the main reason for the sour smell in the air-conditioning outlet and the backflow of the drainage pipe. Regular maintenance can maintain CSPF (Air Conditioning Seasonal Performance Factor) level one energy efficiency level, which can save an average household 15% to 20% of air conditioning electricity bills every year.
Autonomous simple maintenance vs professional maintenance safety red line
- Homeowners can do by themselves: Remove and clean the nylon filter regularly every 2 to 3 weeks (rinse with clean water and dry in a cool place, do not expose it to the sun to avoid deformation and embrittlement); clean the air outlet blades of the indoor unit with a dry cloth; check whether there is any accumulation of debris within 50 cm around the outdoor unit that hinders heat dissipation.
- Professional technicians must be entrusted according to regulations: Refrigerant pressure testing and leakage repair welding, high-pressure cleaning of indoor unit air drums and aluminum fins with liquid chemicals, reset of the drainage slope of hidden cold water pipes in the ceiling, and 220V dedicated power circuit configuration and leakage circuit breaker replacement.
