We know it can be daunting to try to fix an AC unit problem yourself, and it can be hard to resist simply picking up the phone and calling the professionals. After all, here at DeHart Air Conditioning we pride ourselves on being able to provide fast solutions, no matter what your AC issue is and how hard the ac repair might be.
But we also want to provide homeowners with the education they need to figure out whether their air conditioning problem is something they really need to pay a professional to address. Here are 7 of some of the most common ways to troubleshoot your AC unit before you give the experts at DeHart a call!
1. IS THERE POWER? IS YOUR AC ON?
Does your home have power at all? (If it’s the middle of the day, and you don’t have any lights on in the house and aren’t using any electronics, you’d be surprised how easy it is to overlook this!) Your AC unit usually has an indoor on/off switch—did it accidentally get bumped? You can usually quickly reset your AC unit and get cool air blowing again in no time.
2. LOOK AT YOUR THERMOSTAT
Sometimes your AC might not seem like it’s working, but the problem is actually with your thermostat. Did the batteries die? Are you sure the thermostat is set to cool, and not heat or off? A simple flip of a switch or battery replacement could save you the cost of a service call.
3. DOES YOUR AIR FILTER NEED TO BE REPLACED?
The air filter in your AC needs to be replaced regularly, or dust, dirt, and other air pollutants will build up to the point that airflow is restricted, forcing your AC to work harder, more inefficiently, and eventually could stop working at all or cause expensive parts to break! Air filters are easy to access and simple to replace.
4. DID YOUR CIRCUIT BREAKER TRIP?
This is another simple issue that many homeowners overlook when their AC suddenly won’t turn on. Your circuit breaker panel is likely located in your garage, or down in your basement or a hallway closet, and it’s not uncommon that some other appliance in your house could have accidentally tripped the breaker your AC runs on. A simple flip of the switch will have you up and running again immediately.
5. ARE YOUR AIR VENTS BLOCKED?
If your AC is on and running, but you don’t seem to be feeling any cooler, take a look at the air vents around the rooms in your house. Are they being blocked by furniture, plants, dirty clothes piles (no judgements here, it happens!), or anything else that could be preventing cool air from entering the room? As a general rule, you should leave at least a foot or two around your vents to allow room for conditioned air to properly circulate in your home.
6. IS YOUR OUTDOOR UNIT DIRTY?
The outdoor half of your air conditioning system is called a condenser—it’s that big thing you can probably poke your head out a window and see in your yard. That unit needs to be kept clear of any debris, leaves, branches, or other yard hazards that might impede air flow in and out of your system.
7. WAS IT REALLY COLD OVERNIGHT?
Yes, we typically think of frost as more of a spring or fall phenomenon, not something that happens in the middle of the summer, but an unexpected overnight summer frost can freeze up the pipes in your AC, and it can take a few hours to thaw them. Even then, you might experience another day or two where the pipes continue to freeze up again. However, if you continue to have issues lasting more than 48 hours, it’s probably time to call in a professional.
NOT SURE IF YOU NEED HELP? GIVE DEHART A CALL!
Need to replace an AC compressor? Think you need to add freon to your home AC? Now you’re in “call DeHart” territory! Your local heating and cooling experts in Chickasha and Duncan are trained and ready to tell if your home AC compressor is bad, check your AC drain line for clogged symptoms, or check the freon in your home air conditioner. We want you to get the help you need when it comes to AC repair and maintenance, so give us a call today.