Air Conditioner Repair – Things You Can Do at Home to Keep Your AC Running

Air conditioner repair can be expensive. However, there are several things you can do at home that will help keep your AC running and save money.

Start by checking your filter. Typically, your air filter is in the wall vent near where your ducts meet your home’s walls or inside your AC unit’s fan slot.

Refrigerant leaks

Refrigerant is the secret sauce that allows your AC to absorb and exchange heat, turning it from warm air into cool. Without it, your home would never cool down. But air conditioning leaks can rob you of this valuable resource and lead to poor cooling.

Air conditioners use copper refrigerant lines that connect the evaporator coils to the condenser. Over time, these can corrode due to formic acid. This creates tiny holes that let out the refrigerant. This can lead to a number of problems, including a dramatic increase in your energy bill.

If you suspect a refrigerant leak, call a professional immediately. Licensed HVAC technicians are the only ones allowed to handle and install refrigerants, so they are best equipped to fix these issues quickly and correctly. They will also be able to evaluate the entire system and determine if a full replacement is needed, avoiding further expensive repairs.

Dirty evaporator

Your air conditioning system uses the evaporator coil to absorb heat from your home’s circulating air. When this coil gets dirty, it restricts airflow and hinders the transfer of heat to the refrigerant. This reduces cooling efficiency and leads to higher energy bills.

Dirty evaporator coils can also trap volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These are chemicals that come from household cleaning products, paints, and furnishings. When the evaporator coil warms up, these VOCs are released into your indoor air, irritating allergies and asthma.

You can prevent this by regularly cleaning the evaporator coil. This is a difficult job, though. It involves navigating the internal unit in the attic and getting to the blower fan. This is a dangerous task for those without proper training. An experienced AC technician has the knowledge and tools to do this safely.

Dirty condenser fan

The fan and compressor of an air conditioner are both essential parts that allow the cooling process to occur. However, they also both run on electricity, and if either overheat, it can cause irreparable damage. A rattling noise is often the first sign that your air conditioning fan motor has overheated. If it has, this can be a serious problem that requires an expensive AC repair.

In order to avoid this, it is important that you get regular AC maintenance. The professionals who come in to do this make sure that your air conditioning condenser coils and fan blades are clean. Keeping these coils and fans clean can help reduce the stress that your AC unit has to endure, making it more likely to last longer and avoid the need for frequent and costly repairs. However, if you wait too long to get your AC unit checked, minor problems can become bigger and more costly.

Dirty air filters

When air filters are visibly dirty with layers of debris on them, it’s time to replace them. This simple maintenance task prevents people from breathing in dust, bacteria, pollen, spores, and smoke residue that re-enter the home through clogged ductwork. Consistently breathing in poor-quality indoor air can lead to respiratory issues, including allergies and asthma.

Dirty filters can also trigger an increase in mold growth inside the home. This is especially true if the ductwork is leaking and there’s sawdust, smoke particles, or cooking residue in the ductwork.

Busy careers, bustling families, and engrossing hobbies often keep people from thinking about air conditioner maintenance tasks like changing or cleaning their filter. However, this is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that your air conditioner works properly. It’s a small chore that takes only a minute or two and could prevent many costly problems down the road. Licensed technicians can quickly inspect and clean your air filters to restore the comfort of your home.