Troubleshooting Your Central Air System
Have You Changed the Filters in Your Central AC Lately?
When summer temperatures start to rise—or when the humidity settles in—the last thing you want is to hear a funny noise or notice a dripping from your central air conditioner. We all count on our AC systems to keep comfortable, so a cooling equipment problem can be a big deal. The good news is that some common problems are easy to fix yourself, although others require a qualified technician.
Our troubleshooting steps can help you keep your cool, whether it’s an easy DIY fix or something for the pros.
- It won’t turn on. Start by checking that you haven’t blown a fuse or tripped the circuit breaker. If that isn’t the problem, it could be your thermostat is not set correctly or it may not be calibrated properly. Consult the manual for your thermostat and try setting your thermostat to the lowest setting. If your AC doesn’t kick in, you’ll need to call us.
- Low flow. If the flow of air from your A/C vents feels weak or irregular, there may be something obstructing the airflow. Have you changed your filters lately? If new filters don’t help, give us a call.
- Constant system cycling. If your system is constantly turning on and off, it means it’s having trouble keeping up. One cause could be that your cooling system isn’t big enough for your home. Another cause could be a mechanical problem. Either way, constant cycling on and off will wear the system out quickly and lead to a breakdown. You’ll need to have a service technician take a look.
- Noticeably higher bills. With energy prices higher this season, you’re bills may be higher no matter what. But older equipment that’s less efficient will have to work harder—and that will knock energy costs up even more.
- Clicking or humming sounds. This can be a sign of a capacitor problem. Capacitors are help start and run your A/C, and when they malfunction, it can result in damage to your compressor or other parts. Checking and replacing capacitors is definitely a job for the pros.
- Leaking compressor. Drain lines can become clogged with dirt and algae, resulting in water backing up and damaging internal parts of your cooling system. If you notice water leaking from your compressor, call us, pronto.
- Warm air coming from your vents. If the air flowing from your vents is warm, check for ice crystals on your A/C’s evaporator coils, it’s a sure sign of a refrigerant leak. Miniscule leaks are not unusual, and our technicians check for and repair them when they do seasonal maintenance. A leak resulting in in warm air and ice crystals indicates a bigger problem and we need to check it out.
Of course, the best way to avoid a major A/C meltdown is to schedule seasonal maintenance. Regular maintenance keeps your system running at peak efficiency, so your home stays cooler while saving you money. Our technicians are skilled at catching small problems and fixing them before they lead to an expensive system breakdown. Ask about our cooling system service plans: They include seasonal maintenance, priority service if you do need a repair, plus a discount on parts and labor.
And, if you do have a problem you can’t—or don’t want to—tackle yourself, we’re at your service. Our trained techs will find the root of the issue and address it completely the first time. Contact us for more information today.