We have probably all heard of Murphy’s Law, which says anything that can go wrong will go wrong. While it might seem rooted in pessimism, there is a fair bit of truth in that age-old adage. And that quickly becomes evident when your air conditioner (AC) quits working at the most inopportune time. Of course, this is not all that surprising considering how many parts of an air conditioning system must work together to cool a home. When any of those parts go kaput, you will notice that your system has either stopped working completely or is working far less efficiently.

Quick Fixes for Common Air Conditioning Issues

If you’re not averse to getting your hands dirty while also saving money, there are a few common air conditioning problems you can fix yourself.  Some of the more notable ones include

Thermostat Problems

If applicable, ensuring the batteries in your thermostat are still good is the first thing you should do.  From there, you should double-check that the temperature has been set low enough to power the AC unit on.  Lastly, you will want to check and see if your thermostat fuse has blown out or has tripped a breaker.  Setting the thermostat to an appropriate temperature and correcting battery, breaker, or fuse issues related to your thermostat can often get your AC working in no time.

A Clogged or Dirty AC Filter

Like a thermostat that won’t turn on, a dirty air conditioning filter can also be a source of your AC woes.  Fortunately, this is also something you can resolve without needing to call a professional air conditioner repair service.  It’s just a matter of inspecting your existing filter and replacing it with a new one if it is dirty or clogged.  For those unaware, a dirty or clogged air filter can reduce airflow and, in extreme cases, cause an air conditioning unit to freeze.

Drainage Problems

Properly working AC units produce water that travels through a drain line and out of the home.  If the drain line becomes clogged, the drain pan in the unit will overfill.  When this happens, it can damage the AC unit to such an extent that it either works less efficiently or fails to power on.  If you notice water coming from your system, you should check for and remove dirt, dust, and other debris from your AC’s drain line.

Compressor Problems

In most cases, getting to the bottom of a compressor problem requires the expertise of a professional AC repair service.  But there is one thing you can do to yourself to identify and possibly resolve at least one compressor problem.  And that’s checking your home’s breakers or fuses.  Like a thermostat, tripped breakers and blown fuses can prevent a compressor from turning on and helping to cool your home.  Resetting a tripped breaker or replacing a blown fuse can, in most cases, be enough to resolve such issues. 

In summary, there are things that everyday people can sometimes do to get a malfunctioning air conditioning system to function like it is supposed to.  But resolving some problems, such as low refrigerant, a faulty blow motor, and AC condenser problems, usually requires the expertise of a professional and licensed AC technician. For more information concerning quick fixes for common air conditioner issues or to have a technician inspect your system, consider contacting Elite Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning today.