What’s Wrong With My Air Conditioner?

Summer has officially arrived here in the upstate NY – which means it’s time for your home air conditioner to earn its keep. The question is, will your A/C be up for the challenge when you need it most – especially this summer, when you are more likely to find yourself at home for long hours rather than out and about or away on vacation?

Before we hit serious heat, it’s a good idea to test out your home cooling system – and a good time to schedule a tune-up, if you haven’t done so already.

Troubleshooting A/C Problems

If your A/C isn’t running at all, please check out our A/C troubleshooting guide before calling for service. If your A/C is running, but not as efficiently or cool as you think it should, try taking these steps:

• Check your air filters – Dirt and dust in your home accumulate on your HVAC air filters, where it will eventually limit airflow and cause your HVAC system to overwork. Check your air filters once a month, cleaning or replacing them (depending on the model) when needed. Also, keep air intakes clear to keep air moving.
• Keep your home air tight – Keeping windows open on a hot, humid day adds to the cooling load of your home, causing your air conditioner to overwork to do its job. That overwork will lead to lower efficiency in the short run and more repairs and shorter equipment life in the long run.
• Look out for signs of poor air flow – If you notice minimal air pressure coming from your vents, it’s probably time to get your system checked. You could have a fan problem or even a duct leak.
• Make sure your A/C unit is the right size for your home – If you’ve built an addition to your home and haven’t up-sized your air conditioner, it may now be overmatched. Believe it or not, having a system that’s too LARGE for your home can be problematic, too: an oversized unit will “cycle” (turn on and off), taxing the compressor and fan controls.
• Look for fluid leaks – If air coming from your vents is not cold, your refrigerant could be low –  a problem usually caused by poor installation or a leak in the system. Either way, you’ll need a trained technician to service your equipment. After testing the repair, your technician can recharge your system with the right amount of refrigerant, or recommend a replacement if it makes more sense.

Still having A/C problems? Contact Black Bear today for expert air conditioner and HVAC service in Sullivan County, NY!