Air Conditioning Fault Codes – What Do They Mean?
You’ve sweltered through a long, hot summer and you’re now preparing for cooler temperatures. But in the meantime, your unit has been showing an error code that you can’t interpret. Worse, in the process, the unit has shut down entirely. But don’t panic – some error codes could signal a minor issue. If you’ve been regularly undertaking air conditioning maintenance, then hopefully this is the case. Regardless, our guide to some general air conditioning fault codes by brand may give you some insights so you can be prepared for when your technician arrives to fix it! If you have an Advantage Air Zone system, consult our Advantage Air Zone Controller guide to fault codes.
Do all brands have the same codes?
Some brands may share some error codes, but generally different manufacturers have their own set of codes. Fault codes can also vary between a brand’s models, so consult the manufacturer’s website if you need more information.
General Daikin ducted air conditioning fault codes
The following Daikin error codes, descriptions and cause of error refer to indoor units.
| Error code | Description | Cause of error |
| A0 | External protection device activated. | The external protection device connected to the terminal strip T1-T2 of the indoor unit is activated. |
| A1 | Malfunction of the indoor unit PCB (Printed Circuit Board). | Defective indoor unit PCB. |
| A3 | Drain level control system abnormality. | Drain clogging, upward slope etc.
Defective drain pump. Defective float switch or short circuit connector. |
| A4 | Malfunction of freezing protection. | Shortage of water volume.
Low water temperature setting. Defective water temperature thermistor. |
| A5 | High pressure control in heating, freeze-up protection control in cooling. | Clogged air filter of indoor unit and short circuit defect of indoor unit heat exchanger thermistor. |
| A6 | Malfunction of fan motor. | Broken wires in, short circuit of or disconnection of connectors from the fan motor harness.
Defective indoor unit PCB. Defective fan motor. |
| A7 | Malfunction of swing flap motor. | Defective swing flap motor.
Defective indoor unit PCB. Defective connection cable. Defective airflow direction adjusting flap-cam. |
| A8 | Malfunction of power supply or AC input overcurrent. | Defective power supply voltage.
Defective connection on signal line. Defective wiring. |
| A9 | Malfunction of electronic expansion valve. | Defective electronic expansion valve coil.
Defective indoor unit PCB. Defective relay cables. |
| AA | Heater overheat. | 26WH is activated. |
| AF | Malfunction of a humidifier system. | Humidifier unit (optional accessory) leaking.
Defective drain piping (upward slope etc.) Defective indoor unit PCB. |
| AH | Malfunction of dust collector of air cleaner. | Defect of dust collecting element.
Stained insulator part. Defect of high voltage power supply unit. Defect of indoor unit PCB. |
| AJ | Malfunction of capacity setting (indoor unit PCB). | The capacity setting adaptor was not installed when replacing PCB.
Defective indoor unit PCB. |
| C1 | Failure of transmission (between indoor unit PCB and sub PCB) | Defective connection of the connector between indoor unit PCB. |
| C4 | Malfunction of liquid pipe thermistor for heat exchanger. | Defective thermistor for liquid pipe.
Defective indoor unit PCB. Defective connector contact. |
| C5 | Malfunction of gas pipe thermistor for heat exchanger. | Defective thermistor for gas pipe.
Defective indoor unit PCB. Defective connector contact. |
| C6 | Malfunction of fan motor sensor or fan control driver. | Defective fan PCB.
Defective connection of capacity setting adaptor Field setting error. |
| C7 | Front panel driving motor fault. | Defective front panel driving motor.
Defective limit switch. |
| C9 | Malfuction of suction air thermistor. | Defective thermistor for suction air.
Defective indoor unit PCB. Defective connector contact. |
| CA | Malfunction of discharge air thermistor. | Defective thermistor for discharge air.
Defective indoor unit PCB. Defective connector contact. |
| CC | Malfunction of humidity sensor system. | Defective humidity sensor.
Defective connector contact. |
| Cj | Room temperature thermistor in remote controller abnormality. | Defective room temperature thermistor in remote controller.
Defective remote controller PCB. External factor (noise etc.) |
General Panasonic air conditioning fault codes
| Error code | Description | Cause of error |
| H11 | Indoor/outdoor abnormal communication. | Either the control cards are not working properly, or there is no connection between the internal and external modules. If this fault surfaced right away following the installation of the air conditioner, there were mistakes in the main line. It is time to replace the board if the issue started to occur after the air conditioner had been operating for a few years. It is imperative to determine whether the exterior or internal unit failed. The indoor unit fan may keep running in the event of an error. |
| H12 | Other power errors between outdoor unit and indoor unit. | The total power of the internal modules does not match the power of the external. Such an error appears only in multi-splits. The signal appears 1.5 minutes after switching on. There can be 3 options:
|
| H14 | Room temperature sensor error. | The air sensor isn’t working properly; it records room temperatures that are either +46ºC or -56ºC. This indicates a short circuit in the sensor or a break in the circuit. |
| H16 | Compressor load current is too low. | The external module detects low current consumption. Here are 3 reasons why a drop in consumption can happen:
|
| H17 | Similar to H14. | Comparable to H14, but pertaining to the exterior unit: a malfunction of the compressor’s suction pipe’s temperature sensor. On the sensor, there has either been an open circuit or a short circuit. |
| H19 | Motor mechanism of indoor fan locked. | When the internal module motor’s real speed deviates from the speed that the processor specified, an error message appears, signalling that the module motor is jammed. Here are some reasons for these errors:
|
| H21 | Drainage blocked or float sensor defective. | The indoor unit’s drain pan float was having issues. The sensor is open when there is a signal. It is necessary to examine the sensor logic and measure the resistance on the pump’s motor windings, which ought to be around 200 ohms. Additionally, drainage may block; therefore, cleansing the drainage system is necessary. |
| H23 | Indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor abnormality. | Issues with the heat exchanger’s base sensor No. 1 for surface temperature in the interior unit. When the temperature of the heat exchanger falls below -40º or rises over +80ºC, the CPU identifies this anomaly. You must check for either a short circuit on the sensor or an open in the circuit. |
| H25 | Defective ionisation unit or internal board. | The ionisation unit is having issues. When the E-Ion is off, the port is on. The internal module board or the E-Ion board might be having issues. |
| H27 | Outdoor intake air temperature sensor abnormality. | The air temperature sensor is having issues. The processor logs the outside temperature when it is higher than +150ºC or lower than -40º. An open circuit or a short circuit on the sensor might be the root of the problem. |
| H28 | Outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor abnormality. | Issues with the outside unit’s heat exchanger’s sensor No. 1 measuring surface temperature. The heat exchanger’s surface temperature is fixed by the processor at +110ºC or -60ºΡ. Either an open circuit in the circuit or a short circuit in the sensor is the source of the issue. |
| H30 | Outdoor discharge air temperature sensor abnormality. | Issues with the compressor’s discharge pipe’s temperature sensor. Temperature measurements over +200ºC or below -16ºΡ are recorded by the processor. When the condensation temperature is six degrees greater than the discharge temperature, an open in the temperature sensor’s circuit is identified. A short circuit or open circuit on the sensor might be the source. |
| H33 | Indoor/outdoor wrong connection. | When there is a voltage imbalance in the data transmission line between the internal and external modules, an interconnect problem manifests itself. The interior and or outdoor units’ electrical lines are having issues. |
| H34 | Outdoor heat sink temperature sensor abnormality. | The temperature sensor that is mounted in the power module’s radiator has malfunctioned. The processor measures the temperature difference between the external unit’s heat exchanger plates at +80ºC and -43ºC. Either the circuit was open, or the sensor had a short circuit. |
| H36 | Outdoor unit gas tube temperature sensor closed/torn off. | When the external module was in the heat mode, there were issues with the temperature sensor in the gas tube. The temperature over + 149ºC or below -45ºC is recorded by the processor. Inspect the sensor or circuit for any short circuits. |
| H37 | Outdoor unit liquid tube temperature sensor short-circuited. | There were issues with the outdoor unit’s liquid tube temperature sensor when it was in the cold setting. On the sensor, there has either been an open circuit or a short circuit. |
| H38 | Mismatch between outdoor and outdoor units. | Inconsistency between brand codes of indoor unit and external. |
| H39 | Abnormal indoor operating unit or standby units | The indoor unit is in standby mode and has frozen. arises as a result of an unusual unit evaporator temperature. All blocks show this signal at the same time, with the exception of the block where the evaporator is freezing. On the final block, an error number F17 is shown. |
| H41 | Incorrect wiring and freon wiring. | Inconsistency in the connection of wires and freon conduits. |
| H50 | Defective fan motor or board. | Faulty fan motor or issues with the module board inside. |
| H64 | Malfunction of the high pressure sensor. | The high pressure sensor that is mounted in the outside unit isn’t working properly. When the compressor is turned off, the high pressure sensor stays open for a minute. Possible causes of the failure include damage to the sensor itself, broken wires, or issues with the board’s connections. |
| H94 | Compressor discharge temperature sensor malfunction. | Check compressor discharge temperature sensor connection. |
| H97 | Faulty compressor motor, indoor unit board. | The external unit’s engine gets stuck because it runs faster than the CPU has programmed it to. Reasons for these failures –
|
| H98 | Protection for total current consumption. | The internal module’s defense against high pressure or overheating when in heat mode has been effective. Protection kicks in when the heat exchanger in the interior module reaches + 52 °C, and the compressor shuts off entirely when the temperature reaches + 65 °C. When the temperature lowers, the compressor resumes. |
| H99 | Error of the DC protection system. | Possible causes are jamming of the compressor, failure of the transistor module, malfunction of the current sensor of the board of the external unit, the resistance of the compressor windings is below normal. |
| F11 | Incorrect operation of the four-way valve. | This error suggests that the 4-way valve in charge of the heat/cold switching is not operating correctly. Its mechanism or the electromagnetic valve coil may be defective. |
| F17 | Freezing of the indoor unit. | Freezing of the indoor unit in standby mode, an error appears on the unit on which the fact of freezing is detected. |
| F90 | Open circuit of compressor windings. | The signal appears when –
|
| F91 | Incorrect operation of the refrigeration circuit. | The error indicates that the low pressure protection in the refrigeration circuit is activated or that it is operating incorrectly. |
| F93 | Open compressor windings, inverter board malfunction. | The signal shows a discrepancy between the controller control signals and the compressor’s actual performance. Stated differently, when its velocity deviates from the controller’s control signals. Here, the system shuts off. |
| F94 | Overpressure protection. | Excessively high discharge pressure initiates protection. The refrigeration circuit’s functionality must be examined. |
| F95 | Outdoor unit heat exchanger overheating. | The external module is shielded from high pressure when it is in cooling mode. The outside unit’s heat exchanger may overheat, posing a risk to the refrigeration circuit. |
| F96 | Overheating of the power module. | The compressor thermotable in the multi systems opens upon detection of the power module overheating. |
| F97 | High compressor discharge temperature. | The compressor overheats due to its set high discharge temperature. After 20 minutes of uptime, the problem could reset itself. Frequent shutdowns of the external module without obvious cause are one indicator of a problem. |
| F98 | Protection for total current consumption. | The total current used protection has tripped. In the running mode, an excessively high current consumption of the external module is observed. One must look for the source of the problem, which might be either the outdoor unit’s heat exchanger or the refrigeration circuit. When the air conditioner is turned on or is in use, a significant drop in the power supply’s voltage may indicate a problem. |
| F99 | Error of the DC protection system. | Possible causes are jamming of the compressor, failure of the transistor module, malfunction of the current sensor of the board of the external unit, the resistance of the compressor windings is below normal. |
General Samsung air conditioning fault codes
| Error code | Description | Cause of error |
| CF | Filter cleaning reminder or filter reset indicator. | Clean or replace the inner filters of the indoor unit. Then, remove the filter cleaning reminder using the air conditioner’s remote control. (Refer to the user manual if needed.) |
| CI | The Auto clean function (this function starts immediately when the AC is off). | This indicates that the Auto clean function has been enabled. You can turn off this function using the air conditioner’s remote control. (Refer to the user manual if needed.) |
| dF | Auto Defrost function (during the defrost operation). | This indicates that the Auto defrost function has been enabled. This is not a product defect, but one of the modes used during heat operation to protect the outdoor unit. |
Guide for indicators
- CF function. When the inside air filter has too much dust, your air conditioner will not be able to draw in a sufficient amount of air. This may cause temperature issues and noises. We recommend cleaning the filter every 2 weeks or when the CF code appears on the indoor unit display. (The CF code is the filter cleaning reminder). Please check your air conditioner model and follow the user manual to clean the air filter. This will provide you with cool and fresh air.
- dF (Defrost function). When the unit goes into Defrost mode during the heating operation, the dF indicator will be displayed on the panel. For indoor units, the fan will stop running temporarily to prevent cold air flow. For outdoor units, steam may be visible from the frozen heat exchanger.
- Automatic Defrost. When the outdoor temperature is low and the humidity is high, frost may develop on the outdoor heat exchanger, which may decrease heating efficiency. When these conditions are detected during heating operation, the air conditioner runs the Defrost mode for 5 to 12 minutes to defrost the frozen heat exchanger.
Codes requiring authorised service
When the air conditioner displays an alarm on the display panel and won’t turn on, it means the room temperature sensor is shorted or defective. Most of these cases need to be handled by an authorised repair technician.
| Error code | Description | Cause of error |
| C1 or 21 on loop | Defective room temperature sensor error. | Contact our expert team for assistance. |
| C1 or 22 on loop | Defective heat exchanger temperature sensor. | Contact our expert team for assistance. |
| C1 or 54 on loop | Fan is not rotating. | Contact our expert team for assistance. |
| C1 or 63 on loop | Incorrect or deleted data of EEPROM for main control board. | Contact our expert team for assistance. |
Notes:
- The codes displayed will correspond with the air conditioner model. However, the first letter of the code may differ depending on the model.
- Codes containing numbers will blink on the display panel.
General Mitsubishi air conditioning fault codes
| Error code | Description |
| P1 | Intake sensor error. |
| P2/P9 | Pipe (Liquid or 2-phase pipe) sensor error. |
| E6/E7 | Indoor/outdoor unit communication error. |
| P4 | Drain sensor error. |
| P5 | Drain pump error. |
| PA | Forced compressor error. |
| P6 | Freezing/overheating safeguard operation. |
| EE | Communication error between indoor and outdoor units. |
| P8 | Pipe temperature error. |
| E4 | Remote controller signal receiving error. |
| Fb | Indoor unit control system error (memory error, etc.). |
| E0/E3 | Remote controller transmission error. |
| E1/E2 | Remote controller control board error. |
| E9 | Indoor/outdoor unit communication error (Transmitting error) (Outdoor unit). |
| UP | Compressor overcurrent interruption. |
| U3/U4 | Open/short of outdoor unit thermistors. |
| UF | Compressor overcurrent interruption (when compressor locked). |
Air conditioning fault codes can be a worry, particularly if the system shuts down. That’s why regular servicing (we recommend at least once a year) is vital. If your system is showing a fault code, get in touch with the expert team at Crown Power.
References:
2024, Making sense of AC error codes, Compare Air Conditioning
2024, Daikin Air Conditioning Error Fault Codes and Self Diagnosis Explained, Airpro Mechanical
2024, Panasonic Air Conditioner Error Codes, Valley Air Conditioning & Electrical
2023, Error codes on your Samsung indoor air conditioner, Samsung
2024, Error Codes and Troubleshooting for Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioners, Valley Air Conditioning & Electrical
