If your air conditioner isn’t blowing cool air when you turn it on, it can be tempting to search online for DIY AC repair tutorials. Before you do that, however, try these simple tips to keep your cooling system running well.
Install a programmable thermostat to set higher temps for when you’re out of the house and lower ones for when you’re at home. This will make your air conditioner work less hard.
Check Your Thermostat
One of the most common reasons for a non-working HVAC system is that the thermostat is not working properly. The thermostat is the brain of the entire HVAC system and controls everything else. That’s why it’s so important to keep the thermostat clean and in good working condition.
One simple thing you can do to make sure your thermostat is working correctly is to simply change the batteries in it. If you have a newer electronic thermostat, this should be done at least every six months to prevent battery failure that could cause the system to not work properly.
Thermostats require power to function, and if the thermostat is not getting proper power it will not turn on the AC to cool your home. You can test this by making sure the thermostat’s breaker is on and that the breaker is not tripped.
For a more advanced test, you can also use a multimeter to check the continuity of the wires on your thermostat. However, you need to be careful and wear insulated gloves when doing this as working around electrical components can pose significant safety risks. This is something that is best left for those with a fair amount of knowledge about working with electricity and who are confident in their abilities to do so safely.
If you have an older mechanical thermostat, you can try cleaning it with canned air or by using a dry toothbrush to remove any dust or other debris from the inside of the thermostat. This is important to do regularly as it can affect the accuracy of the thermostat.
After you have cleaned the thermostat, you can then re-test the continuity of the wires by putting your multimeter on the continuity setting and touching one of the meter’s probes to each of the R, W, G, and Y terminals on the thermostat. The multimeter should read between 22 and 24 volts if the connections are secure. If it doesn’t, then you likely have a loose or damaged wire and will need to replace the thermostat.
Clean the Air Ducts
If you’re concerned about the level of air pollution in your home, you probably focus most of your attention on keeping dust and debris from blowing around your living rooms. However, it’s just as important to keep dirt and contaminants from accumulating in your ductwork. Air ducts are an easy source of pollutants and allergens, and they can be a major contributor to your family’s breathing problems.
If it’s been a while since you last cleaned your air ducts, you may want to consider having them professionally cleaned. This service involves removing vent covers, vacuuming out the ductwork, and replacing filters. The resulting fresh air will help reduce your home’s energy consumption and improve the quality of your family’s breathing.
In many homes, ducts are lined with a layer of mold and mildew. This buildup of mold can cause health problems for family members who are allergic to it. It also prevents air from flowing as efficiently throughout the house, causing the HVAC system to work harder than it should.
Besides mildew and mold, ductwork can also harbor pests such as rodents and insects. They thrive in the warm, moist conditions that accumulate inside ductwork, and they can spread to other areas of the home.
Cleaning your ducts can eliminate these pests, and it will also improve airflow and make the HVAC system more efficient.
It’s important to understand how your ductwork is configured before you begin the cleaning process. Most ducts are straight for a short distance, then they usually turn at 90-degree angles to reach other parts of the house. Some ducts have tees that create two opposite 90-degree turns, and others are inverted so that they resemble a funnel.
Begin by removing the vent covers and washing them in your kitchen sink with hot water and detergent. Next, cover the supply vent openings with paper towels to prevent dust from escaping and landing on your walls while you’re working. Next, place a screwdriver in the holes of each supply register and remove the screws. Use the screwdriver to pry off the vent, and then use a brush or toilet brush to loosen any accumulated dust on its surface.
Check Your Refrigerant Pipes
Your AC system relies on a special chemical called refrigerant to help it remove heat from the occupied space and deliver cool air back into the home. This is why it’s so important to check your refrigerant lines on a regular basis to make sure they’re in good working order.
These pipes are responsible for transporting refrigerants between your evaporator coil, which is inside your home, and the condenser unit, which is outside of your home. There are two types of refrigerant lines, a large line that’s also known as the suction line and a smaller line that is sometimes called the liquid line. These lines are made of copper and have to be properly sized to ensure that refrigerant flows at the correct rate. Incorrect piping size can cause problems with the cooling cycle, which could lead to your AC not producing cold air.
If you notice any signs that your refrigerant lines are leaking, it’s essential to contact a professional right away. However, before you do this, it’s a good idea to see if there are any easily fixable issues that might be to blame. For example, if you notice an unusually high energy bill without any other explanation, it could indicate that the air conditioner is not getting rid of enough heat in each cooling cycle.
Another problem that can be easy to fix is a leak in the evaporator coil. This can be solved by replacing the coil and may be free since it’s still under warranty. On the other hand, leaks that require replacement of a system component or occur in parts that are no longer under warranty can be more expensive to repair.
In addition to checking the circuit breaker and thermostat, it’s also a good idea to visually inspect all of the piping for any signs of rust or corrosion. These problems will affect the performance of your AC and should be repaired as soon as possible to avoid future damage. Additionally, if you hear any strange sounds coming from the AC unit, such as moldy smells or loud clunking noises, it’s time to call a professional for an inspection and possible repairs.
Clean the Condenser
A dirty condenser coil can reduce your air conditioner’s efficiency by up to 40 percent. It can also increase the amount of energy it uses, which drives up your electricity bill.
A coil cleaning service costs about $200, but you can perform the job yourself with a hose and some water-selective chemicals. Before you begin, cut off power to your air conditioning unit at the breaker box or fuse panel (or turn it off at the outdoor AC unit). This will prevent the machine from turning on during the cleaning process and protect its motors and electrical components from oversaturation that can cause them to fail early.
The first step is to visually inspect the coils for large debris like leaves, spider webs or clumps of dirt. Remove these by hand, and then use a coil brush to wipe off the rest of the dirt. A coil brush is a special cleaning tool with bristles that are stiffer than a regular broom but not as stiff as a wire brush. It’s designed to be gentle on the aluminum fins that make up the coil, and it can help straighten bent fins (if needed).
When you’re done, rinse off the coils with your hose, being careful not to spray them too much (you don’t want to damage them). Then, use a fin comb to gently run it through each of the fins. This can help the coils get more efficient by removing any accumulated dust or other material that may be hindering airflow through them.
It’s a good idea to use the coil brush or fin comb at least once per year. Another important step is to cover the unit during the winter to keep snow, ice melt and salt from damaging it.
You’ll also want to take the opportunity to clean the access panels, disconnect block and condenser fan motor. If they’re covered with moss, you can hose them off to loosen and remove it. If the condenser contactor (a $25 mechanical relay that uses low-voltage current from the thermostat to switch 220-volt high-amperage current to the compressor and condenser fan) is worn out, it will need to be replaced as well. To avoid failure, remove the old one, pull out its connectors and snap a new one in place before turning back on the AC.