Air conditioning problems should generally be left to the pros, as most homeowners don’t have the expertise to troubleshoot and resolve cooling issues.
Further, you’ve invested a lot of money in your cooling system, and you rely on it day after day to cool your home. If you try to solve an air conditioning problem on your own, you could do more harm than good.
Because most air conditioners operate on the same principles and use similar technology, they generally experience similar problems. There are a few troubleshooting steps any homeowner can try, but there are others that a DIYer shouldn’t attempt.
Often, an air conditioner will shut down because of power problems, and luckily, these are scenarios you can and should try to resolve.
- Make sure the main power supply to the A/C is active. Find your home’s circuit panel, and flip the circuits to the A/C.
- Look at the A/C equipment itself, and ensure that the power switches on the indoor and outdoor units are on.
- Check your thermostat’s setting: It should be 3 to 5 degrees lower than your home’s temperature for the A/C to cycle on.
If these steps do not resolve the situation, you probably have a more serious problem:
- No cooling – If your A/C is running but the air isn’t cool, you might have a problem with the system’s refrigerant charge, which must be handled by a certified professional.
- Air conditioner won’t cycle on – If you don’t hear the A/C running, and the thermostat is set to cool, you might have a faulty thermostat or other defects.
- Water problems – Your air conditioner produces quite a bit of condensation, which should be properly drained. Possible problems include water that has gathered around the A/C, a failed pump, a clogged drain or a low refrigerant charge.
At Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning, our experts are highly trained in air conditioning problems that occur in San Antonio’s climate, and we’ve been helping area homeowners for nearly 50 years. Call us to schedule a service appointment.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air conditioners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Maintenance image via Shutterstock
