When warmer temperatures hit, you need the comfort of a well-running air conditioning unit to keep you cool. Doesn’t it often seem like when you need it most, your a/c breaks?
An air conditioner can fall short of keeping your Lyndhurst-Beachwood house cool for a variety of reasons. Some issues could be a simple fix you can do yourself. Other more significant issues might require the help of an expert to get you feeling cool again. If you have a broken ac, here’s what to do—and what not to do!
Do These Things
Start simple! If you’re a/c isn’t cooling to the correct thermostat temperature, or it isn’t blowing at all, check a few quick things.
1. Check the Thermostat
You might think you set the thermostat to a temperature low enough to cool your home, but if it’s not getting cold enough, check the settings on the thermostat. Maybe someone else adjusted it to a warmer temperature, or perhaps you bumped it or forgot to lower it again after setting the temperature higher while you were away for the day.
If the setting is what you want, but your air conditioner isn’t cooling down to that temperature, you can check a few other things before calling for a repair.
2. Check the Filter
Can you remember the last time you changed the air filter for your heating and air conditioning system? A clogged filter can make your a/c system work too hard to force air throughout your house. It can also keep your air conditioner from getting cold enough.
If you can’t remember the last time you put a new filter in, it’s probably time to change it.
- Make sure the unit isn’t blowing air
- Find the location of your filter within the a/c unit
- Remove the old filter and replace it with a new filter
Be sure it’s the correct size! Air conditioning filters come in a variety of standard sizes. You should find the right size noted somewhere on your indoor unit. Choose a higher MERV rating to filter more particles out of the air and help your heating and cooling system stay cleaner.
If your a/c still isn’t cooling to the correct temperature, move on to the next step!
3. Check Your Vents
How is the airflow in your Lyndhurst-Beachwood home? Closing and opening vents throughout your house can help move colder air to the rooms you need it most. Directing the airflow can also help your thermostat blow more cool air if the nearby air gets warmer after adjusting your vents.
Be sure you feel clear airflow through your vents. If you look into your vents and see layers of dirt or debris, your air conditioner could struggle to get cool air where you need it in your home.
4. Check the Power
If your ac isn’t blowing at all, no matter how low you set the thermostat, check the power source. A tripped breaker will cancel power to your a/c unit and keep it from blowing.
When you find a tripped breaker, flip it back to “on” and test your a/c unit. Watch for it to trip the breaker again. You could have a more significant issue if the circuit breaker trips when the air conditioner powers on.
5. Check the Outdoor Condenser
Do this carefully! Take a look at your outdoor condenser, but don’t disassemble anything. If you see debris around the unit or drainpipes, try clearing it away. When the condenser can’t get enough air from the outdoors, or the drains clog from debris, the unit struggles to produce cold air.
Too much condensation or too much debris can “suffocate” the condenser and cause your air conditioner to malfunction.
Don’t Do This!
An air conditioner is a complicated appliance that requires handling with great care. Without proper knowledge of how to safely work with an air conditioner, you could find yourself in a dangerous (and expensive) situation.
1. Don’t Try to Fix It
Heating and cooling professionals have significant training and certifications to handle furnaces and air conditioners safely. From dangerous electrical wiring to chemicals that require safe handling, never open your a/c unit and attempt to diagnose and fix a problem on your own.
If you’ve tackled the list of “Dos” above and nothing helped your a/c work again, call an expert to investigate the issue.
2. Don’t Keep Using It
Maybe turning it off and leaving the house for a while will give your a/c unit time to heal on its own, right? Perhaps if you keep turning the thermostat down, the a/c will eventually cool things down “enough” to make the temperature in your home tolerable.
In both of these instances, you’re doing more damage to your unit. The more you use an under-performing air conditioner, the higher the potential to burn out the motor and cause significant damage. If it’s broken, turn it off and call for help!
3. Don’t Live With It
No one should resign themself to existing in a Lyndhurst-Beachwood home that’s too hot. If your a/c isn’t working, don’t try to deal with it by sticking your head in the refrigerator or opening the windows and hoping for a cool breeze to get through the hot months of the year.
Depending on the issue, an air conditioner repair could cost more than you’d like to spend—especially if it’s an unplanned expense. However, the longer you try to make do with a faulty air conditioner, the problem could get worse (and more expensive). As soon as you realize you have a bigger problem than a clogged air filter, call for a technician to save the day!
Don’t Suffer From a Broken AC!
A broken ac can make life miserable during the hottest months of the year! There’s no need to suffer if your air conditioner isn’t cooling enough, or at all.
My Guys can help keep you cool through regular a/c maintenance or repairs if needed. In Lyndhurst-Beachwood, Hudson, or Solon, OH, contact us if you feel the heat when you need to be cool!
