If you live in a climate where it gets noticeably warmer in the summer months, you most likely have an air conditioner. We tend to take these important machines for granted, until they are not working right or stop working; then we panic. However, if you have noticed your air conditioning unit has stopped running or does not seem to be running as efficiently as it should, do not panic. Before reaching for your phone to call an HVAC service technician, there are a few steps you can take at home to try to troubleshoot the problem with your air conditioning on your own.
1. Check Your Home’s Power Believe it or not, many HVAC technicians have been called to a home for an air conditioning problem only to find the problem was power to the home. You can avoid this expensive and embarrassing predicament by simply checking to see if your home’s entire power is out before requesting a service call. If you find that your power is out, you will want to call your electric company, not your HVAC contractor.
2. Thermostat Batteries
Next, be sure that your thermostat unit has batteries in it and that they are working. If the display does not light up, it is most likely time to change the batteries. If you do not check this problem before calling your contractor, you may find yourself stuck with a bill for a service call and a bit of humiliation.
3. The HVAC Air Filter
Another simple thing to check before requesting a service call is to check the air filter in your HVAC unit. These filters should be changed at least once every three months. Changing them frequently keeps your HVAC system running efficiently and reduces dust and allergens in the home.
If you do not change the filters as instructed, it can affect the performance of your air conditioning and the entire HVAC system. If you have checked these things for troubleshooting air conditioning and find that your a/c not working problem persists, it may be time to call an HVAC contractor to diagnose HVAC problems.