Although the pandemic slowed down many industries, the HVAC contractor market has still managed to grow each year since 2018. In 2023, people now spend more than $15 billion on HVAC contractor services in Canada alone. There are more than 60,000 people in the country who help us maintain our HVAC systems.
It is easy to appreciate how much value people get out of professional Air Conditioning repair services. However, people might be able to spend a little bit less on their services if they knew how to troubleshoot their own A/C repair problems.
Many of the most significant A/C repair issues require the help of professionals and the tools and training that only they can provide. It can also be important to hire professional A/C contractors to avoid voiding your warranty. However, there are also many
Air Conditioner maintenance issues that you can take care of on your own to keep your expenses down. So what are some of the top tips a homeowner can use when their A/C is not working?
Read on to learn all about the repair and troubleshooting techniques you can try on your own A/C!
Change Your Air Conditioner Filter
Many of the most common A/C problems have something in common, air filter problems.
Your A/C unit runs your furnace / heat pump at a higher fan speed, which means it’s processing huge quantities of air every day. If your furnace did not filter that air, your home would be filled with dust, pollen, and other contaminants from the outside.
However, furnace comes with filters to make sure that your indoor air quality is adequate. In fact, when you have a good furnace filter, running your air conditioning unit can be a great way to remove any contaminants in your indoor air.
Because your furnace processes so much air with dust and other debris in it, its filter can become clogged over time. When that happens, your furnace / heat pump fan will have to work harder to force air through the clogged filter.
That can put a lot of extra wear and tear on your furnace and A/C unit. In the long run, it can lead to a whole host of A/C repair problems. Even in the short run, it can lower the efficiency of your air conditioning unit.
If your unit appears not to be working, the problem might actually be nothing more than a clogged filter. Whether you have a window A/C or central A/C unit, it is important to change the filter every few months, depending on the exact specifications of your unit.
How to Change Your Filter
Most units require you to remove the old filter and install a new one. The good news is that this is often as simple as pulling the old filter out of its place and pushing the new filter in. This is one of the simplest but most effective A/C troubleshooting tips every homeowner should keep in mind.
However, if it is your first time changing your A/C filter, make sure to be careful about buying the right replacement filter. Even if you buy a replacement filter that is only a fraction of an inch larger or smaller than it should be, that can have a huge effect on the efficiency of your A/C unit.
In many cases, you will not be able to install an air filter at all if it is not the exact right one for your unit. Make sure to check the model number so you can buy an exact replacement.
Some AC units have air filters that you can clean rather than replace.
Look For Thermostat Problems
Sometimes, people call AC repair services for help only to discover that the real problem with their HVAC system is with the thermostat. You might want to double-check all of the settings on your thermostat to make sure that they are where you want them to be.
It can also help to try turning the setting on your thermostat way up or down to see if it has any effect on your HVAC system.
It is also important to keep in mind that your HVAC system depends on the temperature of your thermostat to know when to turn on and off. If your thermostat is in one of the warmest parts of the house, it might be telling your A/C unit to run all of the time.
On the other hand, if your thermostat is in a cool area of your home, it might not tell your AC unit to turn on until your home becomes uncomfortably warm.
Check for Dirty / Blocked Registers
If your home uses a forced air heating and cooling unit, it will have registers that tend to collect dust just like your air filter. It is important to check these registers and clean them whenever the dust starts to interfere with the free flow of air.
However, even if your registers are clean, they might have trouble getting the air they need if you have any furniture or objects blocking them.
Make Sure Your Condenser Can Breathe
The same basic principle applies to your outdoor unit or condenser. Many people do not even realize that their condenser is becoming obstructed by plant growth or accumulated dirt and dust because it is outside.
However, your AC unit will not be able to get the air it needs to keep your home at a comfortable temperature if the outdoor condenser is blocked or dirty. Make sure to clear plants and other debris away from your outdoor condenser and check it every 6 months or so for poplar fuzz or dust buildup.
Get Help From an A/C Repair Service
If these troubleshooting tips do not resolve your problem, you might be dealing with a more significant repair need. Some people try to open up their A/C units and use a method of trial and error to try to fix things.
However, this can void your warranty. It can also be dangerous because of the electrical and chemical components that Air conditioning units use. For more extensive A/C problems that resist standard troubleshooting tips, consider calling for the help of AC repair professionals right away!
We hope that learning more about how you can solve some of your Air Conditioning problems on your own has been helpful. In many cases, it is necessary to rely on professional services to help you resolve serious maintenance concerns with your AC. Knowing a little bit more about how to manage your own repair needs can also help you know when you need to call the experts for help.
To learn more about how you can find the right HVAC repair services for your needs, reach out and get in touch with us here at any time!