Follow these common troubleshooting steps to find out if an air conditioner repair is in your future.
Has your central air conditioner been acting up lately? If so, you may be wondering if your air conditioning unit needs to be repaired. But wait! Before you call the repairman or woman, why not inspect your system for some common problems that affect air conditioners? If you can figure out what the problem is, you can either fix it yourself, or at least have some basic knowledge of the issue you are facing when you call for air conditioner repair.
To help you understand what may be up with your home cooling system, here are some troubleshooting tips:
Check to see if the unit is running
If your air conditioning doesn’t go on when the thermostat is set to cool, it is either an issue with the thermostat, or with the central air itself. If the thermostat is the cause of the problem, you may be able to fix it easily yourself. First, if your thermostat is battery powered, you may simply need to change the battery. In other cases, the thermostat may have blown a fuse, and will start to work again if you reset the breaker and/or replace the fuse. However, if you find that the thermostat is working properly, and your central air still doesn’t go on, it is likely an issue with the central air unit. In this case, it is best to call your repair provider.
When unit runs but doesn’t cool well, perform some basic maintenance
A common reason for reduced cooling in an air conditioner is that the filter is dirty or needs to be replaced. So before you go any further, turn off the unit and inspect the filter, cleaning or replacing it as necessary. If the air filter is in good shape, another issue could be that the unit is not draining properly. To see if drainage is your problem, check the drain pipe for blocks, as well as for any water that may be collecting around the unit. If none of these maintenance steps work to get your home cool again, it may be time to consider repairs.
Units that don’t blow air need repairs
When an air conditioner is running, but isn’t blowing air, it is likely that your unit’s blower belt is broken. Replacing it is relatively easy if you have the right tools and know-how. But most of us aren’t experts. Luckily air conditioner repair professionals can quickly get your central air back up and running.
Congratulations! By following these troubleshooting tips, you have likely fixed the issues you were having with your central air. And if you did have to get a professional to repair it, you have at least gained a better understanding of the common issues that plague air conditioning units, and will be more likely to identify the problem next time your cooling system acts up. Thank goodness you don’t have to resort to using a fan!
