To call or not to call? Is something not quite right about your air conditioning in your home? Rooms aren’t getting cold, or the unit isn’t running correctly? Obviously, an expert HVAC service technician will respond with any service call. But there are a few things that are simple on your HVAC system that you can check yourself.
If you think something might be wrong with your air conditioning, check these seven items first to see if it might be the answer and correct the issue.
1. Power
Believe it or not, we get a few calls like these during the year from homeowners. Our expert HVAC technicians showed up, only to find out that the house doesn’t have power! It is better to check before you get upset or embarrassed when you receive a bill for the service repair call.
2. Air Filters
Airflow is crucial to your air conditioning unit. The air filters should be changed out when they are dirty, or your system will not work correctly. If the air filters are not checked or changed routinely, the restriction of air could cause the air conditioning unit to malfunction.
3. Thermostat Batteries
Check the thermostat display. If it doesn’t light up, you probably have to change the batteries. If that doesn’t work, then try the circuit breaker. The breaker might have blown, and you just need to flip the circuit breaker back into position.
4. Breaker Box
Make sure that you check the circuit breaker in the breaker box. If the breaker to your HVAC unit has tripped, then reset the breaker. Also, a good thing to keep in mind is that circuit breakers trip for safety reasons. Call an electrician if the circuit breaker happens to trip again. It might be much more than the breaker box. It could be a wiring issue pulling more electricity than it should.
5. Indoor Unit
Check the switch on the indoor unit. Most people do not know that there is a power switch located next to the air handler. Sometimes that switch accidentally shuts off, which turns off the entire air conditioning unit for your home. Check that switch to make sure that the power switch is turned on.
6. Drain Pan
Water drains in the drain pan or under the unit. There is a disconnect switch close to the outdoor unit. Make sure that it is both plugged in, and flipped on.
7. Condensation Pump
What about the condensation pump or the A/C drain line? Many A/C units have a water safety switch. This feature is to prevent water from leaking into your home’s ceiling and floor. Be sure to check for water in a pan under the unit. This basically tells you if the unit is clogged. If water is in the pan, then simply empty the pan. Then, flush out the drain line. After you complete this step, check to see if the air conditioning unit is operational again.
After checking out all seven of these tips and the system is still not working correctly, then give your experienced local HVAC service professional a call to service your unit.
Maintenance
If you are automatically scheduled for air conditioning maintenance, you will be less likely to have problems come up. At Air Shield Heating & Cooling, we offer an energy savings agreement that provides a complete precision tune-up and professional cleaning offered either annually or semi-annually for heating and air conditioning equipment. This maintenance plan saves energy and can reduce your heating and air conditioning costs. When your equipment is maintained regularly, minor adjustments will NOT turn into major repairs. You will also protect your manufacturer’s warranty by performing the regular maintenance required to ensure the original warranty of your system.
Contact Us
At Air Shield Heating & Cooling, our highly-trained residential HVAC technicians are available 24/7 — 365 days a year to provide service for your home or small business. Call us today at 813-644-3806 or contact us online.
