Common AC Problems in Schenectady Homes
- Air conditioner running but blowing warm air
- Outdoor condenser not starting or humming with the fan stopped
- Ice on the refrigerant lines or the indoor coil
- Water leaking from the furnace cabinet or air handler
- Breaker tripping when the compressor starts
- Short cycling, loud buzzing or rattling from the condenser
- Upstairs rooms much warmer than the first floor
Parts We Repair and Replace
Run and start capacitors, contactors, condenser fan motors, blower motors, compressors, evaporator coils, condenser coils, refrigerant line sets, condensate pumps and drain lines, float switches and thermostats.
Equipment
Split central air systems paired with gas furnaces, air-source heat pumps, attic air handlers in older Schenectady houses that were built without ductwork, and wall-mounted ductless mini-splits.
Summer in the Mohawk Valley
Humid July and August stretches along the Mohawk River keep air conditioners running long cycles, which is when weak capacitors and dirty condenser coils give out. Cottonwood fluff and leaves pack the condenser fins in early summer and cut airflow across the coil.
Central Air in Houses Built for Radiators
A large share of Schenectady housing was built long before central air, with steam or hot-water radiators and no ducts at all. Cooling in those houses usually comes from an attic air handler feeding ceiling vents on the top floor, a high-velocity system with small flexible ducts run through closets, or wall-mounted ductless heads. Attic air handlers have their own set of problems: condensate pans that overflow onto ceilings, drain lines that clog with algae, and duct runs that sit in a hot attic all afternoon.
AC Installation in Schenectady and Niskayuna
Replacement central air conditioners matched to the existing furnace and coil, new heat pumps that cool in summer and heat in the shoulder seasons, and ductless mini-splits for homes with radiator heat and no ductwork. For heating problems on the same system, see furnace and boiler repair, and for the town next door see heating and AC in Niskayuna.
Common Questions
Why is my AC unit making a loud buzzing noise?
A steady buzz from the condenser usually comes from a contactor with burned points, a capacitor that is failing, or a fan motor that is trying to start and cannot. Loud rattling is more often a loose panel, debris in the fan or a compressor mount that has worn out.
Why is my outdoor AC unit not turning on?
Check the breaker and the outdoor disconnect first. After that it is usually a failed capacitor, a burned contactor, a tripped float switch on the indoor drain or a thermostat wiring fault.
Why is water leaking from my indoor AC unit?
A clogged condensate drain line or a cracked drain pan is the usual cause. A frozen coil that thaws can also overflow the pan.