Home AC repair may be easier than you think! While air conditioners and HVAC units last for around twelve years, not every malfunction means that it’s ready to be replaced. Replacing home air conditioning or HVAC units can be expensive and time-consuming. Fortunately, home AC repair can be done by a homeowner or a qualified professional. Air conditioning units offer warning signs that point to likely causes that can be easily repaired. There are also quick fixes for simple problems. If there is a water leak, owners can ensure the drain line is disconnected or clogged. If home AC continuously cycles off and on, a simple cleaning can help the AC unit work correctly again. And if the air conditioning unit is not making the surroundings cool enough, the air filter may simply need to be changed. Here are other questions and tips for those who want to delve more deeply into home AC repair.
If the power bill spikes, it’s time to check how efficiently the home AC unit is operating. First check the filter. If that is fine, the problem may be a choked condensing coil. A tune-up is fairly cheap, at around a hundred dollars.
If the refrigerant lines aren’t insulated, this can result in warmer air coming out through the registers. Insulating sleeves for the two copper refrigerant lines are cheap and easy to replace.
If turning on the AC results in buzzing, ticking, or rattling, it could be a loose screw, a bent fan blade, or a blower motor that needs replacement.
Condensation is normal during home AC operation, but if water collects in an area around the unit, this could mean disconnected, clogged, or crimped lines.
If the thermostat is too lose to a hot oven, a register, or in direct sunlight, this can result in home AC shutting off early or staying on for too long. Relocating the thermostat is a quick and easy fix.
Home AC repair may be necessary for air conditioning units that refuse to kick on due to a burnt-out compressor. If replacement of parts equals more than 50 percent of the cost of the unit, it might be time to get a new home AC system.
Repairing this problem is free. The most likely program is that the thermostat isn’t set correctly. To repair, check that the thermostat is turned on, set correctly, and has a fresh battery. Also, check that a circuit breaker fuse hasn’t been tripped.
This problem can usually be traced to a lack of airflow. The simple solution is to change the filter and make sure there’s at least two feel of clearance around the unit.