7 Reasons Why AC Units Breakdown In The Summer

Having a desert climate, it tends to be extremely warm in the United Arab Emirates during the summer months. In July 2021, the highest temperature recorded went as high as 42.1 degrees Celsius. Because of this climate, people in the country tend to depend more on air conditioning (AC) units to survive the heat during such times of the year, resulting in their frequent dysfunctions and breakdowns. This can be such a headache, literally and figuratively, as AC units may take some time to repair, causing people to suffer in the heat.

To understand why this happens and know how to avoid it, take a look at the seven reasons why AC units breakdown during the summer:

Heavy Usage
According to Powerwise, cooling and air conditioning account for 70% of UAE electricity consumption during the summer months. Over 3.3 million refrigeration tons of cooling are used in Dubai during the same time period, requiring nearly five gigawatts of electricity generation capacity. This demonstrates how much people rely on AC units during the summer. Due to their excessive use over a continuous period of time, problems, such as overheating and tripping of circuit breakers, may arise.

Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is a chemical compound that circulates through compressors and evaporators in air conditioners, allowing them to absorb heat from the environment and provide cool air. When this chemical leaks, it can cause a chain reaction of problems that can lead to a system failure. This is usually caused by temperature fluctuations that coils and lines experience during periods of extreme heat.

Lack of Proper Care and Maintenance
In the summer months, people tend to depend on air conditioning almost throughout the whole day. The heat they are experiencing may not allow them to allot enough time for the maintenance and care of their AC units, such as system inspections. As a result, unit problems, like clogged condensate drain lines and dirty filters, will remain unchecked and may cause possible system breakdowns in the long run.

Outdated Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) System
AC units generally have an average lifespan of ten to fifteen years. With regular use, the system may degrade over time. If they are not replaced and are forced to function more frequently during the summer months, HVAC systems may malfunction and cause the AC unit to break down.

Clogged Air Filters
The more an AC unit works, the dirtier its filter gets. Due to the lack of proper care and maintenance of AC units in the summer seasons brought about by their excessive use, the unit may not be able to undergo regular cleaning, which may clog the air filters, cause system failures, and decrease cooling capacity.

Thermostat Problems
A thermostat measures the desired temperature for AC units to run. In the summertime, temperature fluctuates more frequently, forcing AC units to keep up with high temperatures. When exposed to these conditions over time, the system may experience malfunctions.

Malfunctioning Fans
AC units have fans to remove warm air by blowing them over the condenser coils. When such fans malfunction, the unit will have insufficient airflow. Commonly, such malfunction is a result of motor failure due to burn-out and overheating from excessive use, which is common in the summer season.

What Should I Do to Avoid These Problems?
Keep in mind that AC unit breakdowns are most common during the summer season due to one main reason: overuse. Especially in Dubai when the weather tends to get hotter than other countries during the summer, people tend to regularly use their cooling systems as temperatures fluctuate and electrical surges happen from time to time.

To ensure that your AC units are ready for the Dubai heat, contact an AC maintenance company in Dubai like Adams Care to provide you with a specialized AC service that would check your unit for repairs and maintenance before the summer season.