It’s another sizzling San Joaquin Valley summer, and just when you need it most, your air conditioner is failing to keep your home at a reasonable temperature. Even the simplest tasks, such as eating and sleeping, have become difficult and uncomfortable. Although recent utility bills read as if your unit has been on full blast for months, the cold breeze you desire is simply nonexistent. Sound familiar?
Luckily, if your air conditioner is running without cooling your home, it may not necessarily need to be replaced. Before you invest in a new A/C, consider these quick fixes:
- Clean your unit – Rake away all leaves and debris from the outdoor portion of your air conditioner and follow cleaning instructions provided in the owner’s manual. If you don’t feel confident tackling this job, call a specialist.
- Check circuit breakers – Like any other electrical device in your home, your air conditioner can trip the circuit breaker and shut off its own power. Locate your home’s service panel and flip the switch connected to the area of your home in which your A/C is located.
- Inspect the thermostat – If you feel warm blasts of air filtering in through the vents, check your thermostat’s temperature setting. Lower it a few degrees to see if cooling resumes, or look to see if the thermostat is on “fan only.” If that doesn’t provide any answers, shut off your thermostat for fifteen minutes so that it can reset itself. If your unit does not reset, you may need A/C repair or replacement.
- Check for refrigerant leaks – Refrigerant circulating through the unit is what creates cool air, and if your air conditioner is low on refrigerant, it’s likely due to a leak. In addition to affecting your unit’s performance, a leak can also be harmful to the environment. If you suspect a leak, be sure to contact a professional immediately.
If you’re experiencing air conditioning issues and cannot locate or resolve the issue, feel free to contact us at Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning for expert assistance. We’ve been serving the greater Fresno area for more than 40 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Fresno, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air conditioners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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