Our air conditioning systems only get a few breaks around the year. All this hard work makes them more prone to experiencing repair needs, which can occur at any time of the year.
We know you don’t want to call for air conditioning repair in Sugar Land, TX or the surrounding areas unless you have to. What can you do to fix your air conditioner on your own? What sort of DIY tips do we have for you?
Almost All AC Repairs Require a Professional HVAC Technician
The short answer to these questions is that you shouldn’t attempt any do-it-yourself fixes with a central air conditioner. The modern AC is an intricate piece of refrigeration equipment, and it takes years of training as well as specialized tools to handle even the most basic repairs. Common repair tasks such as replacing motors or sealing refrigerant leaks and recharging lost refrigerant are out of reach of amateur workers. even correctly diagnosing an issue to know what needs to be fixed is tricky.
However, if you have an air conditioner that’s not working the way it should, you can take some steps to check on it to make sure it isn’t a simple problem that doesn’t require experts. These aren’t exactly repairs, but they may save you the time of making a repair call.
- Check and change the air filter: This is the most basic step for handling an AC that’s unevenly cooling, putting out low airflow, or tripping circuit breakers. The filter in the HVAC cabinet collects dust over the months as it runs, and eventually the dust will clog the filter so thoroughly it will obstruct the flow of air. We recommend changing the filter every one to three months. When the AC malfunctions, check if the filter is clogged and change it if it is.
- Examine the thermostat: This seems silly to point out, but sometimes the problem really is as straightforward as incorrect settings on the thermostat. Someone may have changed the programming. If you have a heat pump, it might be accidentally set to heating mode rather than cooling.
- Reset tripped circuit breakers: If the air conditioner’s fans or compressor won’t start up at all, go to the electrical panel to see if any circuit breakers have tripped. A temporary overload from the AC starting up may cause a tripped breaker. Reset the breaker and see if the air conditioner turns on. If it trips the circuit breaker again, something is wrong that will need a professional to solve.
- Clean the outside cabinet: Low cooling power from the air conditioner may be the fault of dirt and obstructions on the outdoor cabinet (the condenser). If the condenser cannot release enough heat to the outside, it will not be able to absorb enough heat from the inside. Brush off the cabinet with a broom and remove any obstructions (leaves, branches) too close to it.
- Make sure room vents are open: Closing room vents doesn’t help save energy! It increases pressure in the AC that can cause damage or even force it to shut off early. See that all room vents are open and nothing is blocking them.
If you still have AC problems, reach out to us! Your comfort is our business.