Ask anyone who resides in the desert, and they will surely attest that air conditioners, with their complex labyrinth of ductwork, capacitors, and compressors, are one of mankind’s most ingenious inventions. This intricate system, which, for example, includes the crucial element of capacitor, is the prime ingredient in the cooling process. The ability to flee from the oppressive summer heat into a crisp, cool house, where the airflow and thermostats are carefully controlled, is indeed one of life’s simplest yet most cherished pleasures. However, nothing—absolutely nothing—is as overwhelming as having that luxury brutally yanked away in the middle of a scorching heatwave due to a malfunctioning fan or condenser.
Panic is often the knee-jerk reaction, typically followed by a swift phone call to the closest professionals skilled at troubleshooting such daunting issues. This can be an exorbitant affair, especially considering the steep prices of certain electrical parts like the compressor and reasons associated with major repairs. And let’s face it, who amongst us adults have the time or the financial bandwidth to wait around for a professional when potentially, with a smidgen of DIY know-how, some basic tools, and adherence to electricity safety protocols, you might be able to fix minor issues yourself? To prevent such catastrophic situations, the best way forward is a regular air conditioner maintenance plan with a little tender love and care for your AC unit as the central focus.
HVAC units may seem intricate with the array of components like condenser and fan tucked away out of sight. Applying the right amount of love includes regular cleaning of thy system, ensuring there is no buildup of dust or leaves that could choke the performance of your air conditioning system. However, that doesn’t mean that routine maintenance isn’t achievable for the enthusiastic DIYers. Here are some tips on how to handle common air conditioning issues yourself and knowledge on recognizing the tell-tale signs indicating it’s time to call in professionals, especially when dealing with high-stake elements like electricity, or intricate components like the drain system, thermostats, and condenser coils.
When Your Air Conditioner Won’t Turn On
You wake up early in the morning to a suffocatingly warm house, and it’s already a blistering 90 degrees outside. You pine for the cooling gust of your air conditioning system, flip on the system, but alas, nothing happens. Don’t let panic consume you! There’s a high likelihood this is something a bit of DIY troubleshooting can rectify.
Step 1: Check the thermostat
This may seem like a mundane fix, but it’s very common to overlook the role of thermostats. If the thermostat isn’t calibrated correctly to manage the interplay of condensation and airflow, your air conditioning won’t commence its work automatically. Try adjusting it as the first step.
Step 2: Check the circuit breaker
Air conditioners, with their convoluted cogs of electrical components, capacitors, and compressors, are notorious for gobbling up substantial amounts of power, which can sometimes lead to breaker calamities. If neither thermostats nor compressors are the culprits behind the malfunction, then it’s time for professionals to be looped in. Repair jobs at this juncture might involve intricate parts of the cooling system, such as the motor, condenser, or fan within your air conditioner.
Despite your best efforts, the condensation drain and ductwork on your air conditioning system continue to pose challenges, it’s time to bring in dependable HVAC professionals to do the job. The Cooling Company is one such reliable source of expert repair and maintenance for your AC system, with an experienced team well-versed in all things associated with preserving air conditioner health.
When Your Air Conditioner Isn’t Conditioning
Imagine this: Your air conditioner has been chugging along, but you don’t feel much respite from the heat. The vents blow out air that feels lukewarm at best, and the temperature reading on the thermostat hasn’t budged in the last hour. This mysterious issue can stump the most seasoned DIYer, but there are a few simple methods to determine if your air conditioning system requires professional intervention or just a little tender-loving care.
Step 1: Check the thermostat
Once again, the thermostat could be the most evident solution, even if it is easily disregarded. Try reducing the temperature on the thermostat by about 5 degrees, sit tight and wait approximately an hour before checking again. If there are no changes, it’s time to tackle more complicated solutions.
Step 2: Clean the evaporator coil
Your AC unit’s evaporator is one of its most pivotal components. It transforms the compressed coolant chemical, generally R-22, into a gaseous state, enabling it to absorb heat and then thrust cool air back into your home. Occasionally, this coil is easy to access on your central unit, and if so, cleaning it is a straightforward DIY task.
You can locate this coil perched at the top of the unit, just above the air handler and tucked behind a metal plate that requires a screwdriver for removal. Once you’ve unearthed the unit, use a stiff brush to dislodge any build-up of dust or leaves crammed within the unit.
HandyManHowTo.com provides a brilliantly detailed article guiding you through the nitty gritty of cleaning your evaporator coils yourself. Once you’ve accomplished this task, power up the AC and allot another hour for it to cool your dwelling.
If the cleaning operation didn’t alleviate the issue, it could be indicative of a leak or a dearth of refrigerant. These issues call for attention from professionals as anything related to refrigerant leak or insufficiency is better left to the hands of experts.
Routine AC Maintenance Is the Best Repair
Most problems concerning your air conditioning unit can be circumvented with regular maintenance, a task that a DIYer or professional service could undertake. Changing the air filter, clearing the condenser coils, removing debris like leaves or dust from around the unit, cleaning and realigning the fins, and even ensuring the unit stays level are all manageable tasks a DIYer can execute to keep the air conditioning functioning all year round. If you decide to undertake this upkeep yourself, remember to cut off all power to the unit and consult the owner’s manual to prevent any damage to your air conditioning unit, or worse, injuring yourself.
Despite your best efforts, does your air conditioner still grapple with problems? Reach out to a dependable, reputable HVAC professional at The Cooling Company to breathe life back into your air conditioning unit and make your home cool and comfortable again. We’re operational round the clock, so don’t hesitate to call us at (702) 567-0707. If it’s not an emergency, and you’d prefer us to perform yearly or monthly maintenance on your AC unit, you’re welcome to call us or schedule your appointment online.
