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Nobody wants to get caught without AC on a hot summer day. Here in Southwest Florida rely on our air conditioners to relieve us from the high heat and humidity throughout the year. So, when your unit stops working as it should, it’s helpful to know some dos and don’ts of air conditioning repair to help you keep cool.
Air Conditioning Repair Dos
You’re probably tempted to try a few DIY repairs when your AC unit breaks. While you should leave those significant repairs to the experts, there are some minor repairs you can do on your own. The biggest repair ‘to-do’ actually lies in preventing repairs through proper care. Or, you could opt for a maintenance agreement with your air conditioning provider when in doubt for hassle-free maintenance.
Check Your Filter
The air filter is a barrier that keeps dirt and dust out of the machine. As you can imagine, dirt and debris accumulate quickly. Changing your air filter every few months helps keep the air cool and clean while allowing the machine to run efficiently. It will also help prevent ice buildup that could cause more expensive repairs. Replacing your filter is one of our top air conditioning repair tips. Air filters are an easy and affordable way to keep the machine working correctly.
Inspect the Thermostat
The culprit for a seemingly malfunctioning AC could actually be your thermostat. Start by checking the batteries and settings. Both are easy to change and could be the answer to rising temperatures in your home. If it’s time for a replacement thermostat, you can consider upgrading to a WiFi thermostat to monitor the temperature remotely. These are especially helpful in keeping your electric bill low since you can adjust the settings when you’re gone during the day or on vacation. They also benefit commercial properties and keep costs low by easily monitoring temperatures throughout the building.
Windows & Doors
Another thing you can check yourself to improve your AC’s efficiency is to check your windows and doors. Look to make sure they properly seal when closed to prevent leaking, making your AC work harder to keep those rooms at the right temperature. Routinely glance at the seals on every window and door to check for tears or damage that could let cold air leak out.
Clean Your Ducts
Another area to check outside of your AC is your ducts. Since they intake everything in the air, your ducts contain dust, hair, pollen, and possibly mold or other bacteria. All that debris leads to clogging, forcing your AC to compensate for the lack of airflow. Thoroughly cleaning your ducts lets air flow freely to get to you faster and colder.
Leave Repairs to the Pros
When it comes to internal repairs, absolutely do call an expert. Attempting repairs could lead to damage to your unit and danger to yourself. For example, the fan blades in an air conditioning unit require a professional touch, and any mechanical issue takes a knowledgeable professional.
AC Maintenance Don’ts
You can avoid air conditioning repairs by closely following this list of don’ts. When in doubt, always call a professional! Just like you’d trust a mechanic to fix your car and a contractor to do work on your home, a licensed and insured technician is the best person for an AC repair job.
Overwork the Unit
If you’ve checked everything above and the air still isn’t cool, one of the worst things you could do next is to turn the temperature down. Instead of lowering the air temp, it will actually put stress on the AC, leading to further issues. Drastically lowering the settings won’t give you the result you want and may end up costing you more. Every part of your unit is working harder and more often, accelerating the wear and tear while shortening the life of each part.
Open the Unit
Opening an AC to clean the blades or replace coils takes more than a simple screwdriver. It takes training and specialty tools to open your air conditioning unit while dealing with the complicated inner workings of the machine. Just like your vehicle, an AC unit is a machine consisting of several working parts. Damaging just one part can throw off the whole system, and you could do harm without even knowing.
Attempt Any Repairs
Instead of a 3-minute video tutorial, AC repair technicians have extensive training and years of experience. Working with AC units involves high voltage, delicate parts, and hard-to-reach areas that can quickly lead to real issues. Avoid opening the unit at all, and be careful wiping down any external components. A microfiber cloth or dry duster works well to keep the exterior clean and dust-free.
Need air conditioning repair in Southwest Florida? Chill Squad provides exceptional services to keep your AC working to beat the heat! Call 239-256-COOL or contact us online to schedule repair or maintenance, and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for cool tips from Chill Squad!