Calling in a professional for air conditioner repair in your home can be extremely expensive. There are going to be times when you have to pay for an expensive AC repair because you have no alternative, but you can always take a few steps with your system before you call in an expert. In a lot of cases, you will be able to fix the problem yourself.
Very often an AC unit will stop working for some simple reason. You will not want to pay a technician one hundred dollars to flip a switch or a breaker back on. Here are some quick steps you can perform by yourself that may fix the problem before you have to call in an HVAC technician for air conditioner repair. In many cases, you will be able to save a fair amount of money.
Do It Yourself Air Conditioner Repair Tips
These are some first steps you should take if your air conditioner is not working properly or if it is not putting out a lot of cool air.
1. Check The Breaker
In many cases, having a lot of appliances and lights on at the same time can trip the breaker, causing the air conditioner to stop working. Check this before you call in a technician as it can save you a lot of embarrassment, frustration, and money.
2. Check The Thermostat
Another part of your AC system that can cause problems is the thermostat. If the unit works on batteries, you may need to replace the old batteries with new ones. Be sure the thermostat is set for a temperature that is cooler than the room temperature. Check if the unit has been turned off or if is set to have only the fan blowing. Sometimes settings on thermostats get changed by accident without anyone noticing.
3. Change The Filter
Changing the air filter of your AC system regularly can help you avoid costly AC repair. A clogged and dirty filter can affect the operation of your AC system, causing it to have problems. Poor airflow will cause the system to lose efficiency when trying to cool the home. A clogged filter can even cause the system to develop ice. The filter should be frequently checked and replaced regularly.
4. Melt Ice That Has Formed
If ice has formed in your unit, it will not be able to cool your home properly. It is quite easy to melt the ice that has formed. Turn the system off and let the fan run so the ice can melt more quickly. You can also turn the unit off and allow the ice to melt.
5. Clean The System
Sometimes the air conditioning unit stops working effectively because it has collected a lot of dirt and grime. Your unit may benefit from a cleaning and perhaps an AC repair is not necessary. You can clean the fan blades of the outside unit if you are very careful and you can remove debris that has accumulated near the unit. You can also clean the condenser fins. It is easy to break or bend the fins and blades so you must be very careful when you clean them. It is extremely important that you turn off the unit before you clean it.
6. Examine The Ducts
If you are able to climb up into the attic, you can check the air ducts to ensure that air is blowing out of them. If they are very dirty, they should be cleaned as the dirt may restrict the airflow. Check that the registers are open as they can be closed partially or completely without you noticing it.
The above steps are things you can do if your air conditioning unit at home is not working properly. Taking these steps can help you save money. Of course, you may have a problem that can only be fixed by a professional HVAC technician. Only a specialist in air conditioner repair should add refrigerant to the unit or handle electrical repairs.