5 Troubleshooting Tips for your Air Conditioning System
Is your A/C not working? Here’s what to do before making a service call.
The dog days of summer are coming soon to the Greater Boston area. The last thing you want is to spend time and money on a service call because your home’s air conditioning system isn’t working properly … or at all.
The experienced technicians at Frank Lamparelli are always here to help! But, before you pay to schedule an A/C service call, it pays to do a little troubleshooting: the problem could be something simple that you can fix yourself.
Check and change your air filter
A dirty air filter can be the cause of many problems with your home’s air conditioning system – low airflow, inadequate cooling, and higher energy use (along with higher energy bills) among them. In an average home without pets, you should be changing your A/C’s filter every 90 days. Have a pet? Make that 60 days. If you have more than one pet or people in your family have allergies, make that every 30-45 days.
Free and clean your compressor
Go outside and look at your air conditioning compressor. Is your landscaping starting to get too close? There should be at least two to three feet of clear space around the sides and five feet of clear space above a compressor to give it adequate airflow to work properly. A dirty compressor can make it run harder, adding to your energy bills and putting you at risk of potentially costly air conditioning repairs. If there’s a light layer of dirt on the outside, use a hose on a gentle setting to remove it. If it’s a thicker layer, schedule a professional A/C cleaning in short order.
Check out the thermostat
Read your thermostat’s manual to make sure it’s being operated correctly, especially if it’s a digital programmable thermostat. Also, if the thermostat is in full, direct sunlight, it may cause it to register the wrong temperature.
Check your electrical panel
If your A/C system won’t turn on, the problem may be a tripped circuit breaker. Go to your electrical panel and see if the breakers for the system is in the “ON” position. If it’s not, turn the breakers back on and run your air conditioning system again. If it turns off again immediately, it’s the sign of a bigger problem.
Do some cleaning
Dirty registers can impair your air conditioning system’s effectiveness. Regularly vacuum both your return and supply vents, and make sure they aren’t obstructed by furniture.
And if nothing seems to work, don’t worry, we’re always here for you!
Of course, if your A/C system needs more work than these troubleshoots can do, the pros at Frank Lamparelli have the skill and experience to take care of it. Get in touch to schedule a service call and keep the cool air circulating all summer long.
Frank Lamparelli – serving Boston Metro, Brockton, Plymouth, and surrounding communities from our headquarters in Canton, MA.