Are you having problems with your central air conditioner? Qualified HVAC technicians usually handle repairs of heating and cooling systems in your home. But, there are some simple repairs and maintenance that you can do yourself.
For example, your Air Conditioner doesn’t cool the house, what do you do? There are times wherein HVAC systems don’t cool because it needs cleaning.
First, you need to turn off the power to the unit: unplug it from the main electrical system. Then rake leaves and debris away from the outdoor condenser.
Next, remove any protective grille or cover from the condenser’s and use a soft brush to clean dirt and debris from the fins and then vacuum the dirt and debris with a brush attachment, making sure that you don’t damage the fins of your central air conditioner.
After that unscrew and lift the top grille off the unit and if the fan is attached to the grille, make sure that you don’t pull any wires loose.
How about the inside unit?
Well you will have to hose down the fins making sure that you protect the wiring and motor with plastic sheeting. Then, if needed, lubricate the motor making sure that you don’t over lubricate.
Then, reassemble the unit and test it. Making sure that one of the pipes that connects to the condenser is warm and the other is cool. If this is not the case, you will need to call technician.
While cleaning your HVAC system, make sure that you avoid straining the compressor by waiting at least five minutes before turning if off at the thermostat and turning it back on.
Well, how about if the air conditioner doesn’t turn on automatically?
In this case, you have to make sure that the thermostat is set to cool and below the current temperature.
The air conditioning system should be on a 240-volt circuit, so check your main electrical panel and any secondary circuit panels as there might be a tripped breaker of blown fuse.
Then make sure that the furnace power switch is turned on. Also, the outdoor condensers’ power switch should not been shut off as well as the 240 volt disconnect, which is next to the compressor, is also not shut off.
Next, turn off the power to the central air conditioner and then check the thermostat. To do this, you need to remove the thermostat’s cover and unscrew the jumper wire from the Y terminal and then you can turn the power back on.
So how do you check it?
Hold the wire by its insulation and touch the bare end to the R terminal. You have to hold it there for about two minutes and wait if the compressor kicks on, if it does, then the thermostat is faulty. In this case, you will need to call a technician and replace the thermostat.
But, if the compressor of your central air conditioner doesn’t go on, you need to turn the power back off and call a professional HVAC technician.
