air-conditionerWe’re technically into the fall season now, but we’re still experiencing some pretty hot days. You might be using your air conditioner during the day for a couple more weeks before turning it off for the season. That means that you still need to be careful about any issues that might develop with the system. One of the first signs people notice that their air conditioner is in trouble is when it stops cooling properly. If your air conditioner isn’t cooling your home the way it should be, there are a number of things you should check before calling for repairs.

The Thermostat

The number of times that an air conditioner “problem” turned out to be just an improperly configured thermostat, or thermostat settings, would knock you out. Before you assume that something is physically wrong with the air conditioner, and your AC not cooling is due to a broken part, check your thermostat to make sure everything is reading properly. It’s possible that someone else in your home just changed it without telling you. If everything is displaying correctly, but the air conditioner still isn’t cooling, you may have a deeper issue. You should also call for professional repairs if the thermostat doesn’t seem to be working properly. Checking the circuit breaker for the HVAC system is another one of the common causes of service calls.

The Air Filter

Most homeowners aren’t even aware that their air conditioners include an air filter. The filter is designed to protect the system from the dust and debris commonly found in the ductwork of a home. While the filter is excellent at capturing contaminants before they can reach the air conditioner, it must be changed every three months or so. If it isn’t, the filter will eventually become clogged. Dirty air filters block most of the air flow from reaching the HVAC system, which is then not supplied to the blower to push the cold air through the ductwork. If your air conditioning system doesn’t seem to be blowing much air at all, this might be why.

 

In order to check if you have a clogged air filter, look at the air conditioner and look for the junction at which the ductwork meets the system. This is the air return duct. There should be a latch or cover around that area. Open it, and pull out the current filter. If it looks like it a clogged filter that should be replaced, try installing a new one and see if that fixes the problem. If the filter looks clean, or replacing it doesn’t fix the problem, you should call a professional for assistance.

The Vents

If you notice that the air conditioner output seems to be more limited in one part of your home than in others, it’s a good idea to check the vents in that area. Blocked vents can certainly prevent cool air from properly dispersing throughout a room, even if the air conditioner itself is in perfect health. If you don’t see any signs that the vents are malfunctioning, you might have a duct leak in that area that is diverting a large part of the system’s output. You’ll need to have a technician check that for you, though.

Compressor

The compressor is part of your outdoor unit. Your AC system relies on this being clean and free of debris. If you’re troubleshooting AC problems, make sure to add this to your list. If leaves or other debris buildup on this outdoor unit then your central air conditioner is not going to be working for long. The outside unit is responsible for compressing the refrigerant (also known as freon), which can have issues if the airflow around the outside condenser unit.

Freon

Your HVAC system is able to cool air in part, from the changing of state of freon from gas to liquid and back. Refrigerant is pumped through your evaporator coil and compressor and condenser, and absorbs the warm air from your home and provides cold airflow, lowering the indoor air temps in your home. It is vital for your AC unit’s operation, and if there is a refrigerant leak you will see reduced performance. If the condenser coil does not have enough refrigerant you can have issues. Refrigerant leaks are one of the most common reasons for your air conditioning unit’s poor performance. Low refrigerant levels may be a result of leaky crack in your refrigerant lines, and are among the things our HVAC technicians can fix during their AC repair visit.

 

If you’re getting hot air from your air conditioning system then call the HVAC professionals at Climate Control Heating & Cooling offers a wide range of air conditioning repair services in Parkville, MO. If you need air conditioning services, contact us today to speak with one of our experts.