Why window air conditioner keeps running when turned off? Well, it’s probably a sign that something’s wrong with your AC unit. A perfectly working AC unit is usually quieter and works well without noise disturbance.
Although have you ever heard sounds coming from your AC unit? Some banging, clanging, or if your unit is already turned off but still working? Well, if you are having trouble finding out why these things happen, you’ve come to the right page.
There are various reasons why your air conditioner still runs even if you have already turned them off.
We’ll explain each situation one by one to help you calm down, so stay relaxed and prepare some tools to help you do the fixing.
Zombie Air Conditioners
Yes, you’ve read it correctly. We are talking about Zombie Air Conditioners. However, this AC unit is not haunting. We refer Zombie Air Conditioners to the AC units still working even after it has been switched off.
You might be wondering why this happens, but it sure does. This phenomenon is completely normal. However, it’s already not good if it is still working for over 10 minutes or even an hour after turning it off.
How could this even happen? Why does this happen? We’ll look over each possibility one by one.
Working AC
Modern Air conditioners nowadays are mostly automatic. You can use them with minimal to no human supervision at all. Although whichever unit type you have, you still need to know how it works. It will be a great advantage since you can fix minor repairs if anything goes wrong.
The air con unit that you have been using comprises systems of components like wires, fans, small parts, and more. These small parts work together to make the air conditioner work and do its job. So how do these work?
Let’s generalize the small parts into 2 main parts, the cooling system and the fan. The cooling system is the part responsible for regulating the refrigerant. The other component is the fan responsible for releasing the cool air from the cooling system into the room.
To have a better experience in air cooling, these two components mentioned works well together. However, there are instances that the fan still runs even after you have switched the unit off.
The fan still running is usually the case when the thermostats are on. This is because the fans will keep on working to ensure perfect air circulation in the room.
Why Does Your Window Air Conditioner Keeps Running When Turned Off?
So you have seen your air conditioner unit still works even after you have switched it off. What if your window air conditioner keeps running when turned off? Don’t panic, and we’ll find the problem slowly but surely.
#1. Printed Circuit Board or PCB
The Printed Circuit Board or the PCB is the main control system of the whole unit. Consider it as the brain of the air conditioner unit. The circuit is the one responsible for regulating the control systems that you could find inside the unit.
From the release of the refrigerant, the temperature control, and the monitoring of the power regulation, the PCB is responsible for it all. For example, whenever the air temperature is high, the thermostat immediately records it and sends a signal through the PCB.
The PCB will then send a signal to the cooling system and to do their job. The PCB is likely to be damaged if the fan and compressor still run for a long time. If this is the case, consider having it replaced if it’s beyond repair.
#2. Temperature control system
The Temperature Control System, or what we usually call a Thermostat, is responsible for taking records of the room’s temperature.
Suppose your air conditioner unit has rotary dials that might be stuck, making the air conditioner malfunction. You can fix this by simply putting the dials up properly. Although your compressor could still work, even the dials are stuck.
#3. Thermistor
The thermistor and thermostat work together hand in hand in regulating and monitoring the temperature of the room. The principle of the thermistor is the same as with the thermostat, wherein they send a signal to the cooling system if it’s time to work.
It is a damaged or a broken thermistor that might be causing the air conditioner unit to malfunction. Changing the thermistor might solve the problem or shorten the time of your AC unit.
Air Conditioner Running All Day
Suppose you are wondering if it is normal for your AC unit to run all day, yes. The case is especially true if your home is at a constantly high temperature. On the other hand, the temperature in your room may constantly be rising, so it’s perfectly normal, although it is worth checking still.
This may be true, but it is still best to check the condition of your air conditioner to ensure that the system works perfectly. Although if you still are unsure that you’ve done your checking well or haven’t found the problem yourself, consider contacting a professional.
Conclusion
So if your window air conditioner keeps running when turned off, remember to check everything.
Check the components, for possible damage and repair. It might also need a little bit of cleaning especially if the unit is old.
Nevertheless, a zombie air conditioner is not a big problem unless it needs big repairs with several parts broken.