Don’t Get Overheated About Air Conditioning Repair

With the record heat, this summer most families find an air conditioner a necessity. Families who don’t have one want one, and families who have a broken one, want it fixed. However, most people don’t know how to fix them on their own. It’s best to hire a professional. How do you know when you need air conditioning repair, and when you just have a maintenance problem?

Well, one way is certainly to call a repairman and see what they think. Another is to do a bit of troubleshooting. Is your thermostat on cooling? Does the thermostat need new batteries? Check the breaker? Check the float switch? If the float switch is floating you have a drainage problem. You may have found a problem that needs repair. Be sure that the drain hose is not immersed in any water, squished, or trying to drain uphill. Next, let us check the airflow.

Locate the blower. Is the indoor air on? Next move outside, is the outdoor air on? You should feel a suction, indicating the air is working. While you’re out there when was the last time you cleaned dust and pollen out of the fins? Now would be a good time to wipe them down. A soft bristle brush is recommended. Be sure to move in the same direction as the fins, and be careful not to bend them. When is the last time you cleaned or changed the air filter? The recommendations here are pretty standard no matter the type of machine you are using. Clean your filters monthly, and change them every three months. There is one more thing you can do to save yourself money.

Call for routine maintenance. The recommendation is every six months to a year, however, a technician visit before cooling season is recommended. The technician will check over your machine, and let you know if you need any air conditioning repair before the season starts. They will also be sure your machine is running as efficiently as possible to reduce the chance that you will have problems during the cooling season.

Knowing the components of your machine and how they should look normally will undoubtedly help you recognize a problem. When you do call for air conditioning repair, you will be armed with information to assist the technician in diagnosing a problem. If nothing else, you will be sure that you’re not paying for repairs that you could have fixed easily. You can then sit back and relax, enjoying your cool and comfortable home.