Ductless mini-splits are an increasingly popular option for cooling homes and businesses in Florida. They are more efficient and use less energy than central AC systems. They also provide zoned cooling, allowing you to independently adjust the temperature in each room. While mini-splits are highly effective, they can sometimes experience certain issues that prevent them from cooling. This includes things like dirty filters or coils, electrical or sensor issues and refrigerant leaks.

Dirty Air Filter

The first step in mini-split troubleshooting is to check the filter in each indoor unit to make sure none of them are overly dirty and clogged. A dirty filter can greatly reduce how much cool air a mini-split air handler puts out, as it restricts how much warm air the blower can pull in.

If a single unit has a dirty air filter, you’ll usually only see problems in that room. Multiple dirty filters can negatively affect the cooling performance of the entire system.

Cleaning the filters is a simple task that you can do yourself. If the problem was dirty filters, you should immediately notice a major improvement in performance once you turn the system back on.

Dirty or Corroded Coils

The condenser coil in the outdoor unit and the evaporator coil in each indoor unit allow the system to capture and remove heat from the house. Dirty coils prevent this heat transfer process from working nearly as effectively. In some cases, the system may just not cool as quickly. Extremely dirty coils can lead to warm air from the indoor units. Florida’s salty sea air frequently corrodes the condenser coil, decreasing performance.

Coil cleaning is definitely not a DIY project due to the risk of damaging the fins or copper lines. The biggest concern is that you could accidentally puncture the coil, resulting in refrigerant leaks. If this happens, you’ll face a much higher repair bill compared to the cost of professional coil cleaning.

Electrical Problems

Humidity and salt exposure can commonly lead to electrical problems as well. Rust and corrosion on electrical components can interfere with the flow of electricity, causing the system or components to malfunction. More serious electrical problems can prevent a mini-split from running at all.

Diagnosing electrical issues can be extremely difficult without the proper training. Even if you know the specific issue, trying to fix it yourself can easily lead to extensive damage or destroy the compressor. As such, this is another situation where enlisting the help of a certified technician is the safest solution for your home and equipment.

Sensor Issues

Most ductless mini-splits don’t have an actual thermostat. Instead, they have sensors within the indoor units to measure the temperature of the incoming and outgoing air. You then use the remote to adjust the temperature.

If you have an indoor unit that isn’t fully cooling the air, one of the sensors could be faulty. The majority of mini-split systems have a variable-speed compressor that automatically adjusts the speed of the refrigerant flow. When the room’s temperature nears the desired temperature setting, the compressor slows down. The indoor unit will keep running, but it won’t cool the air as much, preventing the room from getting too cold.

A faulty sensor can make the unit think the incoming air is warmer than it is. This can lead to it not providing enough cooling to keep the temperature from rising. The compressor can also get stuck running at a lower speed, resulting in rooms receiving insufficient cooling. Luckily, having a professional replace a faulty sensor is usually relatively inexpensive compared to certain other repairs.

Refrigerant Leak

A refrigerant leak will eventually lead to a mini-split putting out little to no cool air. The refrigerant captures and transfers heat. If the refrigerant level is low, the system can’t transfer nearly as much heat as it should. Once the refrigerant level drops to a certain point, the heat transfer process stops completely.

Unfortunately, identifying and repairing a refrigerant leak can be both difficult and expensive. If one of the copper lines is leaking, the technician can just replace the damaged section. It’s generally not possible to patch a leak in one of the coils, meaning the only option is to fully replace the coil. By having the coils cleaned regularly to remove dirt, rust and corrosion, you can greatly reduce the chances of a leak.

At The Green Air Group, we’re proud to be one of the most trusted sources for ductless AC repair in Florida. Our team can work on any brand and model, and we’ll quickly get to the bottom of why your mini-split isn’t cooling properly.

For the best HVAC repair in the Emerald Coast area, contact the pros at The Green Air Group.