What To DO Before Calling an A/C Company

Air conditioners are complex machines comprised of refrigeration, electrical, mechanical and plumbing components. If one component or correlating part is out of sync, it affects the performance of the other parts and cooling efficiency as a whole.

If your system is malfunctioning and you’re not sure where the problem lies, try these five troubleshooting tips to see if you can get your system back into shape before calling for air conditioning repair.

No Power? Check Thermostat & Circuit Box

No matter how many times you may try, if your air conditioner isn’t receiving power, it won’t turn on. Before you call your air conditioning repair technician, check the circuit box for a tripped breaker.

If that doesn’t do the trick, check the thermostat to make sure it’s set in cool and auto modes. Adjust the thermostat temperature setting five degrees below the reading and listen to hear if the system kicks on.

Condensate Drain Problems

If the thermostat is on (i.e. batteries are fine and no wiring problems) and the breakers were normal, check the indoor air handler for pooling water. Air conditioning systems have a built-in safety feature that shuts them down in the event water overflows the condensate pan. Here’s how it works:

• Condensation from the evaporator coil drips into the condensate pan and conveys through a drain tube
• If the drain becomes clogged and the pan fills with water, a float switch is activated which shuts down the air conditioner

Changed the Filter Lately?

At Tropical Comfort, our technicians tend to numerous air conditioning repair calls that were caused by one of the simplest devices in the HVAC system – the air filter. If your air conditioner is turning on and off repeatedly and rapidly, check for a clogged filter.

A clogged air filter can quickly damage the blower motor, put a dent in your energy budget (by increasing cooling costs up to 15 percent) and cause your air conditioner to fail prematurely. Check your air filter once a month. Use no less than a mid-efficiency air filter with a 7-13 MERV rating.

Rattling Air Ducts

Another common problem that concerns many Valley homeowners is uneven temperatures from room to room, or worse, no airflow at all from one or more of the vents. Rattling and clamoring noises often accompany this problem. If this is the case in your home, you may have loose, disconnected or dirty air ducts.

Though not technically a component of your air conditioner, the air ducts convey the cooled air throughout your home and they are vital to cooling efficiency and home comfort.

Inspect the Outside Unit

There’s one more area of your air conditioning system to check before you make a service call. Check the outside unit for any obstacles that may be preventing airflow through the grille. It’s also possible that the condenser coil is caked with dirt and debris that is obstructing heat-energy release, which degrades cooling.

If you have any questions about these troubleshooting tips, or if you would like to schedule A/C repair with the most professional technicians in SWFL, contact us at Tropical Comfort A/C today!