AC Problems Home Owners Should Avoid Repairing

There are some issues with your air conditioner that you can tackle yourself and others that require a certified technician. If you try to do more than you are able, you will end up creating even larger problems and can even destroy the system beyond repair. Make sure you call in help when you need it.

No Cool Air

The first things to check if you are not getting any cool air flowing are your filters. Go through the house and replace all the vent filters, including the return air filter. If you still have no cool air flowing, it is time to get professional help as it could be the condenser or a Freon problem.

Thermostat Problems

The thermostat is your control center for the unit. If you notice that nothing happens when you change the temperature setting or switch from cooling to heating, you need to have an HVAC technician come out and find out if it needs replaced or there is some other problem they can fix. In almost all cases, fixing the thermostat requires a professional.

Moisture in the Unit

One of the ways your AC works by taking the moisture out of the air. There is a drain line that needs to be cleaned out regularly, something you can do yourself. If you do not keep the drain line flowing freely, you will end up having water backing up into the compressor or motor. Once you have water inside the unit, you need to have a technician come out to take care of the problem.

Strange Sounds

You should hear a fan and possibly the condenser humming when your AC unit is running. If you hear squealing or groaning from the air conditioner, there could be a major breakdown in the internal parts of the unit. Only certified HVAC technicians should ever get inside and work on the compressor, motor or condenser.

Smells

Most people forget that an air conditioner has a lot of wiring inside. If you notice an electrical burning odor in the air, you could have faulty wiring. Turn off the system and call a technician or you could end up with a fire in the unit which can move to the house.

It can be very tempting to try to fix an air conditioning unit yourself or have a mechanical friend come and help. Unless one of you has been trained to work on an AC, you could be causing more damage. It can also be a safety hazard. If things are not properly fixed there could be refrigerant blowing out of the unit or you could end up with a house fire. Do not try to save money. Call in a technician to work on your system or just turn it off until you can afford to have it properly fixed. The problems you can create are going to cost you more money than a simple service call. Many times, having regular HVAC servicing will keep big problems away. Have your unit serviced at least once a year and avoid emergency calls.

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