Tips for DIY Air Conditioner Repair Services

No one likes a broken down air conditioner. It spells uncomfortable days and nights ahead. Luckily, not every repair job needs a technician. Some jobs are so simple that anyone can do them with a bit of advice. Here are a few tips for DIY repairs that you can do on your own air conditioning unit.

1. Check Your Thermostat

In some cases, the air conditioner isn’t even the thing that’s broken. Sometimes it’s your thermostat. Wiring can come loose, or the device, itself, may burn out. Those repairs may require a professional to fix. In other cases, it may be a simple fix like needing new batteries. A quick change may be all that you need.

Another instance is when the power goes out. Sometimes this can set the thermostat back to its default mode. If you don’t think to check its settings, then you may believe that your air conditioner is to blame for the problem.

You’ll want to make sure that the thermostat isn’t in fan blow mode. You also want to set it at a cooler temperature than what you actually want.

2. Check Fuse Box and Breakers

According to Kimbel Service, In some cases, the circuits might have broken. Too much strain on the fuse box can blow a fuse or a circuit breaker. This can happen when you have the air conditioning unit on as well as several other appliances. The breaker might not be able to handle the load.

Sometimes all you need to do is flick a switch on the fuse box to have everything return to normal. Other times, you may need to replace a circuit or fuse with a fresh one.

To prevent tripping in the future, you might want to stagger when you run your appliances.

3. Melt Ice

Ice build-up isn’t going to do you any favors. When ice builds up on the unit, it can’t function. Luckily, it’s easy to melt ice. One method is to shut the cooling-off and simply run the fan. The warmer air will circulate around the ice and slowly melt it with time.

Another option is just to turn the unit off entirely. The heat from the air will also melt it on its own.

If ice builds up regularly for your unit, it could be a sign that your refrigerant line has a leak. Because refrigerant can be dangerous to handle, it’s best that you call for a technician to inspect the unit and make any necessary repairs.

Otherwise, if you only notice ice build-up now and then, the listed tips above should solve your problem.

4. Change Air Filter

An extremely important maintenance and repair tip that you should follow is to change your air filter regularly. For best practices, it’s a good idea to change the filter after the summer and winter seasons.

Summer, especially, can make your filters dirty. All of the pollen and dirt from the season can clog up the filter and make your unit work harder to run. Since air can’t pass through the filter as easily, thanks to the clogs, the unit has to work harder and harder just to push cool air through the home.

Changing the filter out with a brand new one ensures that the air quality in your home is healthy. It will also return your air conditioner to an efficiently running unit.

5. Clean the System

One good way to help prevent costlier repairs is to keep your unit clean. Much like a car’s engine or any other operating machine, it works best when it’s clean and lubricated. You can clean your unit with some simple soap and water with a fresh and soft cloth.

Some of the machinery can be delicate, so you’ll want to wash them gently. Cleaning in circular motions is a good practice to adopt. After the unit has been cleaned, it’s also a good idea to take another rag and simply wipe away the soap and water. Drying it after that can also ensure that your unit is ready to be used directly after cleaning it.

Some of the areas that are safe to clean are the fan blades and condenser fins. The blades can be dangerous if you haven’t turned your unit off, so before you do anything, turn off your unit. Then you can gently move the fan blades as you clean them.

The condenser fins are also very delicate. They can easily bend. Be gentle with your scrubbing and try not to apply too much pressure.

6. Examine and Clean Ducts

Have you ever looked inside your ducts? If not, it may be a good idea to start inspecting them. Your air conditioning unit passes air through the ducts inside of your home. Unfortunately, it also means that your ducts collect a lot of dust over time.

You should inspect your ducts for several reasons. The first is to ensure that none of them are damaged. Accidents can happen and ducts may be bent out of shape. This can make airflow difficult.

Another reason is to check for pests. Mice and other rodents love to make ducts their personal homes. It’s comfortable and safely out of harm. Cleaning out your ducts ensures that you remove any rat nests lurking inside of your home.

A final reason is that it allows better air quality in your home. Since dust can easily accumulate in your ducts, those dust particles are being pushed through your entire home any time the air conditioner kicks on. By cleaning out your ducts, you can improve the air quality of your home.

Leave Some Repairs to the Professionals

These few tips and practices can be utilized to safely maintain and repair your air conditioning unit. Because of its delicate machinery and use of electricity, it’s a good idea to leave the more complex repairs to the professionals. The last thing you want is a costlier repair job because you made the problem worse. Implement these DIY repairs instead when you can.