Summertime in Texas means floating the river, hitting all the amusement parks and trying to avoid heatstroke. Life in the Texas heat without a working air conditioner is uncomfortable and unbearable. When your AC starts having problems, we know you want to get it fixed as quickly as possible. However, check out four of the most common AC problems people experience to see if you can easily fix them yourself before calling for AC repair services. When it comes down to it, Champion AC & Plumbing has your back when you’re in need of AC repair.
1. Your system isn’t working at all.
Above everything else, the most dreaded problem you can experience with your AC system is when it stops working altogether. Think back to when your unit was working, and see if you can remember any signs of malfunctioning to help you narrow down the problem. One of the more common causes for this traces back to the thermostat. Double-check that your thermostat breaker hasn’t tripped and that your batteries haven’t died. If everything seems to be working, make sure your switch is in the ‘on’ position and set your temperature a little lower to see if it kicks on. Other possible reasons it could have stopped working include a broken fan, lack of refrigerant or dirty coils.
2. You can hear your AC blowing but can’t feel the air.
When your AC is barely blowing or not blowing at all, it becomes obvious very quickly. Letting your air conditioner run when the air isn’t cooling down your home wastes energy and costs you extra. For starters, change your air filters, clean your vents and make sure they are open in the direction you want the air to blow in. If this doesn’t fix your problem, you might have holes in your air ducts. Naturally, the air takes the path of least resistance. This means if you have holes in your ducts, the cool air will escape before it reaches your vents. Use foil-backed tape to fix these holes and imperfections.
3. The air from your system isn’t cool.
Your system is blowing perfectly – but what’s the point of running it if the air isn’t cooling down your home? Clogged air vents, filters and return grates can also limit airflow and warm up your air by the time it reaches the rooms in your home. Your system’s outdoor unit plays a big role in the cool-down process. Turn your system off, and open the panels to clean and unclog the condenser in your outdoor unit. While outdoors, also check the fins on your unit and use a fin comb to straighten them out if they are bent and restrict the inflow of air.
4. Your system is constantly running.
Although this might seem like a good thing during the summer, it’s increasing your electric bills and means your system isn’t working efficiently. Check to make sure your fan is set to ‘auto’ rather than ‘on’ and that your temperature isn’t out of the range of possibility for your system to reach. When it’s 96 degrees outside, it’s unlikely that your air conditioner will ever be able to reach 65 degrees inside. However, if you have it set to a low temperature, it will attempt to reach it by running until it can – even if it can’t. Since your condenser aids in cooling your home, make sure the coils in your outdoor unit are clean and dirt-free so your air is being cooled as much as possible.
If the problem you’re experiencing isn’t one of the four most common or you’re unable to fix it yourself and need professional AC repair, give us a call at Champion AC & Plumbing today. Whether you’re in need of replacement, repair, check-ups or maintenance, we’re the company for AC repair Austin homeowners can count on.
