What Is Hard-Starting an Air Conditioner?

Is your air conditioner making loud noises during startup or failing to cool down your Northern Virginia home quickly? You could be dealing with a hard-starting AC system. Hard starting is a condition that occurs in all types of motorized equipment, including air conditioners.

While a hard-starting AC may still be able to cool down your home, leaving this issue untreated can eventually lead to a complete system breakdown.

In this blog post, the HVAC experts at C.B. Lucas offer key insights into the severity of a hard-starting air conditioner and how to resolve this problem if it presents in your Fairfax County home.

Think you have a hard-starting AC on your hands? Call C.B. Lucas to book emergency AC repair with our 24/7 team today!

What Does It Mean To Hard-Start Your AC?

When you attempt to turn your air conditioner on, and you hear loud noises, or it fails to cool down your indoor environment as quickly as it once did, it may be hard-starting. Air conditioners rely on a compressor to pressurize refrigerant and circulate cool air through the indoor and outdoor coils to extract heat from the home. When the motorized components of your compressor fail, it may struggle to turn on and stay on, resulting in grinding, stuttering noises, and insufficient cooling throughout the home.

There are a few different reasons why your compressor may be experiencing issues. For example, the capacitors responsible for powering your compressor’s motors may be failing or may have lost lubrication. In some cases, however, a hard-starting AC is a sign of severe wear and tear on your system and can indicate the need for a replacement unit. Whatever the underlying issue, a hard-starting air conditioner can pose significant issues for your home’s comfort. It places unnecessary strain on your system, leading to energy waste and high utility bills.

What To Do About It

Unfortunately, there is no DIY fix for a hard-starting air conditioner, as the root cause of the problem requires specialized tools and training to repair. When this issue arises, it’s always best to trust a professional with your AC repair needs. During your air conditioner repair appointment, your technician may address this problem using a hard start kit. This special device is designed to send extra voltage to your compressor, helping it overcome the resistance and making it difficult to start. Hard-start kits are typically used when your technician believes plenty of life is left in your AC system.

On the other hand, if your unit is over 15 years old and has experienced a significant decline in performance, hard-starting is a sign that it’s time to consider a full system replacement. In this case, your technician will make the appropriate recommendation to restore total comfort to your home in the most cost-effective manner possible.

Schedule With C.B. Lucas Today!

If your air conditioner is hard-starting, don’t wait to get the problem resolved by a skilled professional. C.B. Lucas offers the emergency AC repairs Northern Virginians need to keep their systems running smoothly on the hottest days of the year.

With 24/7 emergency availability and plenty of financing solutions for AC replacements, we strive to deliver the most convenient, cost-effective service experience for every customer.

Request air conditioner repair or replacement in Fairfax by contacting C.B. Lucas today!