You depend on your air conditioner to provide, cool conditioned air to your indoor spaces. While these systems are often reliable and dependable, issues can creep up that sacrifice your indoor comfort. If your home starts to become hot and humid, it’s time to make that dreaded urgent service call to your local license professional HVAC dealer.
Before the HVAC Technician Arrives
Before making the urgent service call, you should do some simple detective work on the symptoms of your air conditioning system. It’s often helpful if the technician understands your concerns before they arrive at your home.
The three most common calls related to air conditioners are:1
- AC unit turns on but isn’t cooling properly
- AC unit isn’t turning on
- Air flow velocity is reduced
If possible, you should locate and write down the manufacturer name and model number of the equipment from your initial bill of sale so it is immediately available to the technician upon their arrival at your home. If this information is not available from your paperwork, a homeowner should not attempt to open any equipment in order to access this information. If your air conditioning system is covered by a limited warranty, be certain to tell your HVAC technician.
Minimize Air Conditioning Problems
Maintaining a comfortable and consistent temperature in your home is a delicate balancing act between the air conditioning equipment, air flow, and mechanics. If one or more components are not functioning as designed, the entire system may be affected. As a result, your indoor comfort may be compromised!
In order to understand the air conditioning language used by your technician, it may be helpful to learn How an Air Conditioner Works, and a few key parts of your cooling system.
The Department of Energy (DOE)2 highlights a few of the most common air conditioning problems that your HVAC technician may discover. If cool air isn’t blowing or you air conditioner won’t turn on, your air conditioner technician may inspect one of more of the following:
Refrigerant: Low or leaking refrigerant will reduce the cooling capacity or your air conditioner. If there is an issue with the refrigerant, your technician may attempt to identify and repair the leak and recharge the system. NOTE: An air conditioner is not designed to consume refrigerant.
Thermostat or Control System: Dead batteries in a thermostat or control system may prevent your unit from turning on. If the unit turns on but isn’t cooling properly, your technician may perform a test to ensure it is set properly and that it is reading the correct temperatures.
Electric and Electronic Controls: If the unit is not operating, the compressor, fan controls or capacitor could be worn out or electric connections may have been affected by the system’s consistent starting and stopping, and on-demand operation.
Condensate Drainage: If the unit isn’t cooling properly, the technician may check condensate drains to be sure they are not clogged.
Air Filters: Clogged air filters can restrict airflow and decrease your air conditioner’s ability to remove humidity from the indoor air effectively.
Ductwork: Leaking, constricted or clogged ductwork can interfere or even cut off conditioned air from getting to your indoor living spaces.
Your licensed professional HVAC technician may suggest replacing your air conditioner rather than repairing it if they discover a costly repair issue on an aging unit. While there are a lot of variables in determining whether an air conditioner should be repaired or replaced, your contractor can provide the best guidance because they understand the details associated with your particular system.
Follow Up
Routine maintenance can be a big part of maximizing the longevity and efficiency of your air conditioner. It is as important as taking your car to a mechanic for oil changes! If an extended service agreement is not already in place, technicians may often offer to set up a maintenance plan wherein the customer agrees to pay a set fee for standardized scheduled system maintenance. Routine maintenance may extend the life of your HVAC equipment and possibly prevent minor issues from turning into expensive major problems over time.3
1, 2 Energy Saver 101: Home Cooling. (n.d.). Retrieved from Energy.gov: https://energy.gov/articles/energy-saver-101-infographic-home-cooling
3 Maintaining your Air Conditioner. (n.d.). Retrieved from Energy.gov: http://energy.gov/energysaver/maintaining-your-air-conditioner