Summertime is filled with pool parties, vacation time, and good ol’ heat. With that sort of environment greeting you every morning, what’s not to love? Oh. . . maybe the heat? If your AC is busted or not working properly, waking up every morning bright and early can be disastrous, especially if you feel like you’re melting from the heat wave. That’s a problem. To ensure this doesn’t happen to you (or if it happened last summer, to ensure it doesn’t happen again), fix up your AC.
I know what it sounds like, that’s probably easier said than done, right? Actually, troubleshooting your AC unit is easier than you think. Today, I’ve made a short list of things to look for when attempting to repair your AC. Simply identify the problem that sounds the most like yours, read the possible causes, and take a crack at the possible solutions. While one solution may not work for you, another one might. Don’t discourage and only call a professional if the solution says so or you feel you absolutely cannot get it done.
PROBLEM ONE: My AC doesn’t cool.
Possible causes: This may sound cruel, but make sure you have an AC system installed BEFORE you try to fix it. Not all houses have an AC system. For instance, one of my friend’s homes by the university has central heating, but not central cooling. Make sure your thermostat has a “cool” option and you can plainly see an AC unit outside before you attempt to fix a problem that may not exist.
With that out of the way, if your AC unit isn’t cooling, it may be due to a handful of different causes, namely:
- The thermostat is set too high
- The condenser is dirty
- The condenser is blocked
- The evaporator is dirty
- The compressor is faulty or there’s not enough refrigerant in the system.
Possible solutions?
- Lower your thermostat’s setting
- Clean the condenser coils and fins
- If the condenser is blocked, trim back any shrubbery and plants to give at least 2 feet of space to the outdoor unit.
- Clean the evaporator if it’s dirty.
- The last two were grouped together because both of these problems require the aid of a professional.
PROBLEM TWO: The cooling is uneven.
Possible causes: If the cooling is uneven, it’s most likely due to the face that the distribution system is out of balance.
Possible solutions? This one is pretty simple. Balance your system.
PROBLEM THREE: The cooling is inadequate.
Possible causes:
- The thermostat may be set too high
- The evaporator may be dirty
- The unit may be too small for your home size
Possible solutions?
- Try lowering your thermostat’s temperature
- Clean the evaporator
- Replace this with a larger unit. If the unit is too small, it’s sorta a big deal. You risk the chance of overheating the unit by working it too hard when it won’t be able to fully cool down your home. This can cause damage to the system internally and may turn into a hazard if it’s done often enough. Replacing your system with a larger unit can help. To figure out which unit is the right size, click here.
For the most part, those are the top three problems and solutions when it comes to your AC system. If you’re looking for some tools to help you get on the right path of fixing your AC, check out the trustworthy plumbersstock.com by clicking on the image above.
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