Simple Guidance For You In AC Repair
Its that time of year again when we are starting to turn the heat off and might find ourselves opening the windows and enjoying the spring weather. There is nothing better than that first sunny day after winter when it’s not cold outside and isn’t too hot either. While it is undeniable that we all can appreciate a beautiful day like that after a cold winter but it doesn’t seem to last very long before we are turning on the air conditioning to cool our homes. The last thing we would want to have to deal with during the heat of summer is air conditioning failure. Summer is the time of the year that HVAC repair technicians are the busiest they are going to be all year and it’s not uncommon to have to make an appointment and wait several days before your air conditioning system can be serviced and running again to cool your home.
How To Troubleshoot Your Air Conditioning System
You can save yourself the expense of having an HVAC technician out to your home if your able to figure out what the problem is with your air conditioner and how to fix it on your own. A few things that you can do to find out what is going on with your air conditioner and its performance are:
– Start with the settings on your thermostat. Set your thermostat to “cool” and make sure that the temperature has been set to a few degrees below the current temperature in the house to initiate a cooling cycle. Sometimes changing the batteries in your thermostat can make a difference as well.
– Check the air filter. If your filter is dirty and is unable to allow as much air to pass through it as it used to due to contaminants clogging it, then it is time to replace the filter. A clogged filter can stop cold air from being able to circulate your home.
– If your HVAC system isn’t turning on at all, make sure that there is power still going to the thermostat as well as the air conditioner itself. Check your circuit breakers in case it has tripped and reset it. The air handler should also be switched to the on the position as well.
– Air vents can be a culprit to your HVAC system running less efficiently too. Make sure that the vents are clean and clear of any clogs that can be caused by dust.
Understanding Your HVAC System
The best thing you can do if you’re going to attempt to do a home AC repair is to get to know your air conditioning system and understand how it works. This can help you to be able to troubleshoot your air conditioner better which can lead to a diagnosis of what the problem is with your system. Sometimes, that is half of the battle. It is also good to know if a part can be replaced which can save you a lot of time and money as sometimes, it may just be better to replace a component of your system to get the best efficiency out of your HVAC system.
HVAC systems are made up of two main components. One is called the evaporator coil and is located inside your home while the other part is the condensing unit which is located outside. Each part relies on the other to be in optimal working conditions for the other to be as efficient as possible. The evaporator coil is responsible for taking the heat from inside your home and transferring it to the condensing unit outside where they eat is expelled from your home.
Helpful Tips
HVAC systems tend to last anywhere from ten to sometimes twenty or more years depending on how well the system was maintained over its lifetime. Usually, the more expensive an air conditioning system is, the more efficient it will be but it’s important to know that just because an air conditioning system is expensive, it doesn’t mean that it will never need to be repaired or maintained. Routine maintenance is key when it comes to the efficiency and longevity of your HVAC system so when problems arise, don’t hesitate to do a home AC repair if you are aware of what the problem is and how it can be fixed successfully. Often, homeowners cost themselves more money in repairs than they needed to spend due to waiting too long to address their air conditioning systems efficiency or maintenance.