Summer is quickly approaching which means that temperatures well over 100 degrees are on the way in some areas. As your community starts to heat up, air conditioners are likely to start working overtime, which may lead to mechanical troubles if you haven’t been diligent about maintenance.
While it’s often prudent to give your local A/C repair professional a call when you’re struggling with your unit, you may be able to DIY fix your issue which will save you the house call. To that end, we recommend running through the following fixes below before picking up your phone.
- Check the Power
If your air conditioner isn’t turning on at all, before you declare that the unit itself is having power issues, make sure the issue isn’t with its power supply.
For starters, try plugging in and unplugging your unit. If that doesn’t work, reset the breaker that serves your unit’s outlet to see if that does the trick. Finally, run your air conditioner’s plug to a far outlet using an extension cord to see if it can pull power from another circuit.
If all of that fails, the power issue likely lies in your unit and you’ll want to look up AC repair in your area and call for help.
- Ensure Your Thermostat is Properly Connected
Sometimes air conditioner issues come from your thermostat not properly communicating with your central unit. This could be the case even if your thermostat looks like it’s turned on and functioning.
To make sure your thermostat is sending signals, disconnect its body and inspect its wires. Has a wire come loose? Does a connection look frayed?
If something looks out of sorts, it could be that re-setting the wire in question will fix your problem.
- Change Your Filter
One of the most common A/C repair issues we hear about every summer is that not enough cold air is coming out of a unit. This is almost always due to a filter problem.
HVAC filters are cheap and easily replaceable so refer to your unit’s manual to learn how to remove yours and swap it out which should improve airflow.
- Clean Your Condenser Coils
Central air conditioners have fan blades that spin over fin-like coils which can inhibit airflow if blocked. You don’t have to be a professional to assess your coils and hose them down so, if you notice your coils look clogged, give cleaning them a try.
- Inspect Your Coolant Lines
Those pipes that run from your unit’s evaporator to its condenser should have insulation foam on them which allows flowing coolant to do its job. If that insulation looks damaged, replace it with affordable foam insulation sleeves.
Keeping your coolant well-insulated can help the air your unit blows stay cold and your house stay comfortable.
Sometimes DIY A/C Repair Doesn’t Cut It
We’re all trying to save a dollar where we can but the truth is, sometimes DIY A/C repair doesn’t cut it. In those cases, put your comfort (and safety) first and give a professional a call for additional assistance.
You’ll find that with the help of a pro, you’ll be able to cool off quickly and make the most of those hot summer days.
For more home-focused DIY tips, explore the newest content on our blog!
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