Air conditioners are of vital importance during humid and scorching days owing to the level of comfort they provide to homeowners.
Hence, an AC breakdown is a nightmare for every Lombard resident during the summer period. Instead of calling a professional for common AC problems, try using these tricks to fix your AC. The former AC package has two separate parts, whereas the latter contains the evaporator coils and condenser in a single unit.
Tips for Fixing Your Lombard IL Air Conditioners
There are numerous heating and cooling companies, such as airwisehvacpro.com serving Lombard IL, meeting the cooling needs of clients.
Lombard residents might find these AC tricks useful.
Educate yourself on the anatomy of central air conditioners
Prior to performing any DIY air-conditioning tricks, homeowners in Lombard should learn more about the anatomy of their central AC systems. These systems are comprised of two main components, a condensing unit and an evaporator coil, also called an A-coil, located in the air handler. The refrigerant found in the A-coil collects the heat from the house and transports it to the condensing unit found outdoors.
The job of the condensing unit fan is to blow outside air through the coil to remove the heat. It’s comprised of three parts. The compressor is also located in the condensing unit, but this part should be replaced by a professional. The evaporator coil can be serviced or replaced by practicing DIY tricks and contains no parts.
Check the circuit breaker
If your AC fails to turn on, the primary step to take is having a look at the circuit breaker located in the main electrical panel. The role of the breaker is to control the electric power inside the house, but sometimes, it might trip due to the inability to handle the excessive load. For instance, if a single breaker is in charge of several appliances, there can easily be a trip in the system.
You can easily do a quick check of the breaker. If it is tripped, try to reset it by switching it on and off before turning it on again. If you are dealing with a frequently tripped breaker, you should contact an AC technician.
Inspect the thermostat
Another trick to have in mind when having a problem with your air conditioner is inspecting the thermostat. The thermostat is the core of an air-conditioning system, as it instructs the unit to turn on and off based on the temperature in the surroundings. When left un-inspected for a longer period, the thermostat is likely to lose its settings.
Homeowners in Lombard, Illinois, whose thermostat readings have become faulty or have a flickering backlight usually have a problem with drained batteries. Dirt has the potential to cause reading discrepancies as well. This is why you need to clean the thermostat underneath the cover often.
Sometimes, the location of the thermostat is to blame for inaccurate readings. The thermostat should be positioned away from vents, windows, other appliances, direct sunlight, and sources of hot and cold air. Nevertheless, if your thermostat displays no figures or shuts down the entire system, it’s time to get a replacement.
Get rid of ice accumulation
Homeowners in Lombard, Illinois, might cope with iced-up air conditioners. Ice accumulation usually occurs due to a dirty or clogged filter. In such cases, homeowners are advised to switch the unit off while keeping the fan running. Consequently, ice melts much quicker than just by turning the unit off. Without the fan turned on, it could take up to five hours for the ice to melt.
Nevertheless, by running the fan, the ice can thaw within a few hours. Be careful not to scrape the unit when you notice ice, as the equipment is delicate. Once the ice melts, it is best to clean the filter to prevent the same issue from happening. If ice accumulates in the coils again, the issue might be a more serious issue. This could be caused by low refrigerant levels, blocked drains, or dirty coils. In such cases, remember to contact a professional.
Get a new filter
Another AC trick for residents of Lombard to practice is getting a new filter when dealing with reduced cooling efficiency or disrupted airflow. When the filter becomes clogged, both airflow and cooling efficiency are affected. Manufacturers suggest that your air filters are replaced every sixty to ninety days. Nevertheless, a replacement every three months is sufficient, provided you inspect their condition every month. The general rule for deciding whether to clean or replace a filter is by assessing the amount of dirt on it. If the filter looks incredibly dirty, making cleaning impossible, you should replace it with a new one.
The habit of getting a new filter every couple of months would improve energy efficiency, prevent icing, and prevent allergens and dust from polluting the inside air.
In conclusion
These simple AC tricks are helpful when dealing with minor problems. Try them sometime!
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