AC Broken? 4 Tricks to Bring It Back to Life
Saturday, March 31, 2018, 6:00 AM | Leave Comment
Even relatively minor damage to your HVAC system could wreak havoc on your finances.
Ongoing problems with your cooling system might result in skyrocketing energy bills, unpleasant smells, refrigerant leaks, mold in your ducts, and a variety of other issues.
Here is a quick look at four tricks that you can use to bring your aging air conditioner back to life.
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Move or Replace the Thermostat
Upgrading to a programmable thermostat is one of the best ways to improve the efficiency of your air conditioner and prevent unnecessary wear and tear.
Your HVAC system might cycle on and off or struggle to keep your home at a consistent temperature if your thermostat is damaged or in the wrong area of your home.
Installing a programmable thermostat on an interior wall that isn’t near any windows or doors could reduce your cooling costs by as much as 25 percent.
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Clean the Coils
When your HVAC system is being used regularly, you need to clean the coils once every few weeks.
Over time, mold and dust will cling to the outside of the coils and reduce the efficiency of the system.
If the coils are located near the blower, then that debris might create unpleasant smells as well.
As you are cleaning and inspecting the coils, you should also take a look at the air filters to see if they need to be replaced.
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Level the Condenser
Condensers are designed to be level at all times, and you might run into a few problems over the years if your condenser wasn’t installed incorrectly.
Luckily, leveling a condenser is a relatively easy project that only requires a handful of tools and a few shims.
In order to level your condenser, you will need to gently raise one side with a crowbar or piece of wood before placing a shim underneath one of the legs.
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Reset the Breaker
Your air conditioner might turn off suddenly if a fuse blows or the breaker box is tripped.
Resetting the breaker can be done in just a few moments without any tools, but you should contact an AC contractor to have the system inspected if a fuse has been blown.
You should also schedule a service call if your HVAC system trips your home’s breaker more than once or twice a year.
Residential AC units can be extremely complex, and you should never tackle any maintenance or repairs unless you are absolutely sure of what you are doing.
If you’re unsure, you should instead consider calling a professional like Master Service Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration or someone similar.
There are very strict laws regarding refrigerants, and working on certain components of the HVAC system without the proper licenses could result in huge fines and fees.
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Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max.
