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Troubleshooting a Central Air Conditioner

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Troubleshooting a Central Air Conditioning System

When the weather warms up and it’s time to turn on your central air conditioning unit, you may run into problems that keep your air from turning on or working properly, especially after several months of inactivity. Common problems can often be solved through a few steps of troubleshooting, but if the problem proves to be more complex or serious, then you’ll want to call an HVAC professional.

Troubleshooting According to the Problem

replace the air filter if the AC isn't blowing cool airUnit won’t turn on

If your air conditioner won’t turn on, start with the basics. First, make sure there is power to your AC unit. Have any fuses blown or the circuit breakers tripped? If so, replace the fuse and reset the breakers. If not, check your outdoor unit and the blower motor to make sure the switches are set to “on.” Next, check your thermostat. Make sure it is on and set to “cool” at an appropriate temperature, or try lowering the temperature by five degrees. If your air conditioner still won’t turn on, you might have a faulty motor or compressor. In that case, call an HVAC professional.

Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

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The warm temperatures of summer will be upon us soon enough. This spring maintenance checklist will help to prep your house for the changing weather. The biggest goal is cleaning up the cooling system.

Air conditioner cleaning as a part of fall home maintenance checklistAir Conditioner

Keeping the air conditioner maintained will not only prolong the life of the unit but significantly reduce energy costs. Call an HVAC professional to the house once a year. They have special equipment to test the pressure in the refrigerant lines to detect leaks. During this visit they will also clean both the condenser (outside part) and evaporator (inside part). This part of the task is actually very doable for DIY type homeowners. It is still good to call in the professional, but there is no reason why you can’t do an extra cleaning midway through the summer.

Be sure to keep changing the air filters every 2-3 months so these efforts are not wasted. If you have pets or are in the middle of a dusty projects, change the filters as a part of monthly maintenance.

Air Conditioner Maintenance and Cleaning

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Maintain the AC every spring to reduce energy costs and prolong the life of the unit.Caring for the Air Conditioner

For a home’s heating system the furnace is the heart. For a cooling system it isn’t that simple. The air conditioner does all the work, but it is split into two major components: the condenser and the evaporator. The part of the air conditioning system on the outside of the house is the condenser. On the inside, usually integrated with the furnace and blower, is the evaporator. Connecting these two components are refrigerant lines that transfer heat (energy) outside.

Maintenance, Cleaning, and Inspection

Professional Inspection

While there are a few tasks you can complete as a DIY homeowner, it is best to get a professional to service the air conditioner once a year. They have special equipment to test the refrigerant line pressures. This reading allows them to detect a leak much earlier than a homeowner, who probably won’t notice the problem until the system has a hard time cooling.