Air conditioner repair can be very expensive when you have to call in a professional. Of course there are times when a costly repair is unavoidable, but you can troubleshoot your system first, before calling in a professional. Many times your problem is something you can easily fix.
It’s often the case that your unit is not working for the simplest of reasons. In can be frustrating to pay out a hundred dollars or more just to have a technician come out and flip a breaker back on. There are some quick and easy checks you can perform yourself before you call for help from an air conditioner repair company. These checks often help you save a lot of money too.
DIY Air Conditioner Repair Tips
Here are a few things you can try if your air conditioner unit is in need of repair, not running at all or maybe just blowing less than cool air:
1. Check your breaker
If the unit won't come on at all your breaker could have tripped. If you have several appliances, lights and other things on the same breaker often it will trip and the air conditioner will not operate. This is a quick check that can save you money, frustration, and even embarrassment.
2. Examine your thermostat
This is another part of the system that can cause you dollars and distress. If the unit is battery operated it may just need new batteries. Make sure you have the thermostat set for a temperature below the room temperature. Insure that the unit is not turned off or set to just have the fan blow. Settings can get inadvertently changed.
3. Change your filter
Many air conditioner repairs can be avoided by consistently changing your filter. If your filter is dirty and clogged, it can cause many issues with your unit. Lack of air flow can cause a lack of cooling efficiency with the system. In some cases a clogged filter can lead to your system icing up. Filters should be checked often and changed on a regular basis.
4. Melt any ice
If your unit is iced up it will not cool properly. Melting the ice is a simple procedure. You can turn the system to off and run just the fan to help melt the ice quickly. Or you can just turn off the unit and let the ice melt on its own.
5. Give it a good cleaning
Often the system may just be dirty. Instead of an actual air conditioner repair, the unit may just need to be cleaned. On the outside unit you can carefully clean the fan blades and remove any debris from inside or near the unit. The condenser fins can be cleaned also. Be very careful when fooling with blades and fins as they are easy to bend and break. Also, make sure the unit is off when you clean it.
6. Examine your ducts
If you feel comfortable climbing into your attic, check out your ducts to make sure air is coming out of them. In the event they are dirty enough to block air flow they will surely need to be cleaned. Often a register may have been accidentally closed partly or even all the way. A cursory check will show if air is flowing through the ducts.
The steps above are some things you should try if your AC unit is on the blink. These can save you a lot of money before you call in a professional air conditioner repair company. Of course, some things dealing with air conditioner repair can only be handled by a competent and professional service company. Things like adding freon and electrical repairs have to be done by specialists.
You have to have your AC working though. Do what you can to make it work when you have issues, but don't hesitate to call a professional! Experts In Your Home serves Chico & surrounding areas and we are ready and willing to help.
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