Many factors could cause your A/C to malfunction. Some of the more common ones include:

• A lack of refrigerant in the system: Insufficient refrigerant will force the system to work harder in order to generate cold air. Air conditioning systems do not consume or burn refrigerant, therefore, if the level is low, it is either the result of a leak or having been insufficiently filled at the time of installation.

• Grime and dirt on the condenser coil: Dust, dirt and grime can accumulate and get caked onto your air conditioner’s condenser coil. When the condenser coil is covered by a layer of dirt, it becomes more difficult for the refrigerant inside the coil to condense back to its liquid form, making the system far less effective.

• Blocked air conditioning drain tube: When warm air meets the cold evaporator coils, condensation naturally occurs. The accumulated water is collected into a drip pan to be drained away from the system. If that drain line becomes clogged, the water can back up into the system, cover the evaporator coil in ice and impede the functioning of the entire system.

• Faulty sensors or electrical controls: The compressor and fan in the air conditioning system depend upon the flow of electrical current to work. If a faulty electrical control interrupts the flow of power, the air conditioning system will no longer function properly. The system also relies on the sensors inside the thermostat to tell it when to turn on and when to shut off. A malfunctioning thermostat sensor could cause the air conditioning system to constantly remain on or never come on at all.