Your air conditioner is responsible for your comfort at home, and if it’s acting up, odds are you’ll experience a few not-so-enjoyable days. If you find yourself with A/C problems on a hot summer day, here are some troubleshooting tips you can use before entering your local HVAC specialist’s service queue:
- Go outside and check the condenser. In order to function effectively, your outdoor unit requires unobstructed airflow to shed excess heat. If there’s debris or yard objects near it, or if the area is overgrown, your A/C’s performance will suffer.
- Check your owner’s manual to learn more about your system’s heat anticipator. This component tells your A/C when to start cooling, so your indoor environment stays comfortable. If it’s not set right, your A/C may let your home heat up before kicking on.
- Check your condensate pump for pools of water, as well as excess humidity. Humid air holds more heat than dry air, so if you’ve got humidity problems, your A/C may not be as effective as you want it to be. Your A/C’s own condensate pump can contribute to humidity woes if it’s not working properly.
- Look over the air vents in each room. Are they blocked with furniture or clutter? Are they closed? If so, you may be putting more strain on your system fan, preventing these rooms from being cooled.
- Think back on any recent home energy-saving upgrades. If you’ve done major structural work, renovations, insulation upgrades and home sealing, your air conditioner may no longer be sized correctly for your home. This could result in insufficient cooling power, or dramatic cooling swings followed by periods of heating.
If you’re fighting off A/C problems and would like a professional opinion, contact Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc to learn more about your HVAC system. Our Dayton and Springfield offices are ready to help you stay cool this summer.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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