Key Tips For DIY Repairs Of Your Malfunctioning Central Air Conditioner

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If your home is warmer than you would prefer because your central air conditioner is currently only providing uncooled air, your first instinct may be to ask an air conditioning expert to fit you into his schedule as soon as possible. However, before you write a check to that person for an emergency appointment, it's a good idea to attempt some basic steps to see if the issue is a minor one that you could fix on your own. Below, you will find three tips that may help you to address common air-conditioning issues that could be making you hot under the collar.

Check The Air Conditioning Filter

If you are fortunate, the problem will be as simple as an overfilled filter. It will often occur if you use a cheap fiberglass filter or if you have had more people or pets in your home than you do normally. You might be surprised to find that an increased population in the home can frequently result in more dust molecules, fur, hair, and other air contaminants making their way to the filter.

When the filter is too full to continue functioning as it should or if it is the wrong size, the air conditioner can freeze up. You will soon have warm air coming from the vents. 

Therefore, you will need to:

If the AC has frozen up or is in danger of doing so due to a very cold exterior, you should let it warm up, being sure to keep the unit turned off. When the ice has melted and it has returned to its normal temperature, turn it back on. You should notice cool air coming from the vents within about 10 minutes. If so, you just fixed the air conditioner. If not, proceed to the next step.  

Check The Outside Compressor

Just as the unit inside cannot function as it is designed to if the filter is too full, the compressor outside might quit working if its components are blocked by debris. You can evaluate if that is your issue by disconnecting the compressor from its power source. If the compressor sits directly in the sun, it might be very hot to touch, particularly because metal is such a dominant part of its construction. That means that you will need to be extra careful to not accidentally touch the sides of the unit, as you could get a nasty burn.

You will first need to remove the external grating to the unit, being sure to get each screw out carefully and store them in a secure, accessible container nearby. Then, it is a simple matter of removing by hand all of the debris that you can safely and using an outdoor vacuum or similar device to remove the other contaminants. Then, use a hose with the lowest water pressure possible to rinse the area, being sure to avoid contact with the fan blades and other delicate parts.

Finally, when everything has thoroughly dried, re-assemble the unit, reconnect the electricity and see if it is working again when you turn it on. If so, removing debris that was preventing the unit from functioning properly addressed the problem. If not, this is probably a good time to call a trusted HVAC expert to further evaluate the problem.

In conclusion, an air conditioner that's not functioning as it should is at best uncomfortable and can even be unsafe for some persons and some areas. As a result, you're likely to find the above advice about easy ways you might be able to restore the functionality of your central AC  to be quite useful. If you need more tips, check out sites like http://www.rbincorporated.com/ and talk to a professional.


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