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| AC Repair |
How To Repair Your Air Conditioner - AC is a household appliance that is very vulnerable to problems. When your air conditioner suddenly stops working, it can be cause for alarm or it can be something as simple as a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker.
While many problems with your air conditioner will require a professional technician to repair the issue, we find that sometimes a homeowner can fix simple problems with a little troubleshooting.
We have put together the following troubleshooting guide to help you address four of the most common problems you may encounter with your air conditioner.
It is important to note that many common problems with air conditioners can be caused by inadequate maintenance. To help avoid any future issues, we recommend that you get set up on an annual maintenance plan for your heating and cooling systems.
There 3 common problems usually happen with your air conditioner.
1. When Your Air Conditioner Won't Turn On
If your air conditioner isn't turning on, first check your unit outside to determine if the condenser is running. Make sure that the unit is plugged in and your thermostat is set properly.
It sounds simple, but lower your thermostat 5 to 10 degrees and see if that fixes your problem- and make sure your thermostat is set to cool. Our Maintenance Manager, John, points out that many thermostats are tricky and homeowners may be able to save themselves time and money by reading the manual.
Then check to see if a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker is to blame.
If your air conditioner still will not turn on or your coil is frozen, you may have a problem with your motor or compressor and will need to contact a professional to repair your system.
2. When Your Air Conditioner Is Not Cooling the Air
If your air conditioner will turn on, and your thermostat is set properly, but your system is not cooling you may have a dirty or blocked air condenser. Your first step is to check the outside unit and clean around and remove any debris or weeds that are blocking air circulation.
Next, check your filter and make sure it is clean. A lot of times, we find the filter is dirty, and when it restricts the air to the evaporator coil, the coil can freeze. If you have pets or run your a/c often, you may need to change your filter more frequently. A good test is to pull your filter out and check if you can see through it.
If your air conditioner is still not cooling air, you may have a problem with your compressor or refrigerant and will need to contact a professional.
3. When Your Air Conditioner Isn't Adequately Cooling Your Home
If your air conditioner is on and set properly but is still not cooling your home to your standards, you may have a unit that is not sized appropriately for your home.
Keep in mind that your system should be sized to keep your home cool on the average summer day. The average system should be able to maintain a 20-25 degree temperature difference between the outdoor and indoor temperature. In other words, your air conditioner is not designed to keep your home at 68 degrees when it is 95 degrees outside.
If it is a normal summer day and your air conditioner still can't keep up, you may have a problem with the charge or a frozen evaporator coil. If you see icing on your outdoor unit, shut it off and call a professional.
To make your air conditioner more durable and long lasting, there are 7 Tips for Maintaining Your AC Unit
1) Change your filter. The simplest and most effective way to keep your AC running smoothly is changing your filter once a month. By regularly changing your filter, you reduce a lot of the burden on your system. A dirty or clogged filter makes your air conditioner work much harder than does a clean filter. Changing your filters regularly is easy on your budget and easy on your system as well. It will lower your utility bill and extend the life of your AC.
2) Keep your coils clean. The AC coils and fins on the outside of your unit need to be kept clean and clear of obstructions. Leaves and other debris sometimes accumulate around your unit. If obstructions are present, your unit must work harder to function than it should. You can clean your unit with a regular garden hose and a broom. Do not use a pressure washer, as the strong spray could cause harm to your system. A little bit of housekeeping in this regard goes far toward keeping your air conditioner working optimally.
3) Keep surrounding shrubbery trimmed. If you have planted shrubbery around your unit to hide it from view, be sure to leave adequate space around it for the unit to function without obstruction. A quick trim will do the trick.
4) Ensure your dryer vent is not angled toward your AC unit. Lint from your dryer exhaust can cause problems for your unit. Ensure that lint cannot get inside the vents of your air conditioner by simply angling your dryer vent elsewhere.
5) Adjust your thermostat. If you are away for large stretches of time every day, adjust your thermostat to a higher temperature for the time you are away. This will lessen the amount of time your unit has to work each day, and will lengthen its life cycle. An additional benefit will be a lower utility bill each month. Some newer thermostats allow you to pre-program your thermostat to match your schedule so that your home will still be cool when you arrive. Optimizing your system’s usage will maximize its life in the long term.
6) Check your ductwork and seal open spaces. Make sure all your doors and windows are properly sealed to help keep your home cool. Perform a visual inspection of your ductwork occasionally to be sure it is sealed correctly. If ductwork is not properly sealed, cool air will escape before getting into your home. The less cool air that escapes your home, the less your unit will have to work.
7) Schedule an annual tune-up with an HVAC professional. A trained HVAC technician can detect most problems before they become major ones. With a cost of around $100 for a routine maintenance call, the benefits will likely outweigh the costs by a considerable margin. A typical tune-up will include various tests to ensure your unit’s internal parts are functioning correctly, as well as a filter check, and a refrigerant charge if needed. Your technician will likely also clear the drain, and clean your unit thoroughly inside and out.
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