In most air-conditioning systems, the condenser unit is located outside the house and is prone to accumulate dirt and debris from trees, lawn mowing, and airborne dust. The condenser has a fan that moves air across the condenser coil. You must clean the coil on the intake side, so, before you turn off the power to the air conditioner, check to see which direction the air moves across the coils. Here's how to clean the condenser: Show Step 1: Cut down any grass, weeds, or vines that have grown around condenser unit; they could be obstructing airflow. Step 2: Clean condenser with commercial coil cleaner, available at refrigerator supply stores. Instructions for use are included. Flush coil clean (do not use hose); let dry. Step 3: Clean fins with soft brush to remove accumulated dirt. You may have to remove protective grille to reach them. Do not clean fins with garden hose, as water could turn dirt into mud and compact it between fins. Clean fins very carefully: They're made of light-gauge aluminum and are easily damaged. If fins are bent, straighten them with fin comb, sold at most appliance parts stores. A fin comb is designed to slide into spaces between fins. Use it carefully to avoid damaging fins. Step 4: Check concrete pad on which condenser rests to make sure it's level. Set carpenters' level front to back and side to side on top of unit. If pad has settled, lift pad with pry bar or piece of 2 x 4, then force gravel or rocks under concrete to level it. During the fall and winter, outside condenser units should be protected from the elements to prevent leaf blockage and ice damage. Cover the condenser unit with a commercial condenser cover made to fit the shape of the unit or use heavy plastic sheeting secured with sturdy cord. If you've cleaned everything you can and you're still not getting cool air, the problem could be the refrigerant. Learn what to do in that case on the next page. Air conditioners work hard to keep you cool, and you don't realize how much you rely on them until you are stuck in a sweltering room with no relief. If your air conditioner suddenly goes out, there is no need to panic. Follow these simple steps to bring your A/C unit back online and you may avoid the need to call in an expensive professional. Check Your Thermostat Many thermostats are battery-operated, and once they power down so will your air conditioner or heater. Check that your thermostat is fully operational and the connections to the wall are good. More From Popular MechanicsCheck Fuses and Reset Buttons Under a heavy load, an A/C unit can trip an electrical breaker. Check the breaker box to make sure this hasn't happened, and also use a multimeter to check the fuses inside the disconnect block next to your air conditioner to make sure they are still functioning. If either of these scenarios appear, there could be an underlying electrical problem with your home's main box. Have an electrician look at that. It can take 15 to 20 minutes for your air conditioner to get up and running after it's tripped a circuit breaker or the power is turned off. Be patient and wait it out before trying something else. Check and Replace Filters A clean filter is vital to a well-functioning air conditioner. During the summer it is good to check your filters once a month. If you have pets, leave windows and doors open, or have allergies, you may need to change your filter more often. A blocked or dirty air condenser can also degrade the performance of your unit. Make sure the vents around your air conditioner are clear of debris and the area surrounding your A/C unit provides plenty of air flow. Check the Access Panel Turn off the power at the main box to the A/C unit and open the electrical access panel on the air conditioner. It is usually located where the electrical power comes into the unit. Check for rodent nests and wires that have been chewed or frayed. Replace the Contactor Now we're getting into more serious stuff. The contactor is a relay that converts the low-voltage signal from the thermostat into a signal to switch on 220V power to the compressor and condenser. When these contactors fail, the A/C unit will go down. They are a cheap and easy to replace. Check the owner's manual to locate the contactor and replacement model. Replace the Electrical Capacitor A capacitor stores electricity and is used during the compressor and fan startup for extra power. It also protects the motor from damage due to fluctuating voltage. These capacitors don't last forever and can go out unexpectedly. If you are comfortable with electrical repairs you can use a screwdriver to discharge the dual start/run capacitor by connecting terminals to short it out, and then replace it with a new one made for the make and model of your A/C. If that's beyond the level of DIY you're comfortable tackling, then call a pro. Do More Research There is a ton of great information online about almost every air conditioner available. You can find troubleshooting tips on manufacturer websites as well as message boards and blogs. Timothy is a lifelong DIY enthusiast who is fixated on smart home tech, beautiful tools, and wrenching on his FJ62 Land Cruiser. He’s the DIY editor at Popular Mechanics and also the founder of the home improvement site, Charles & Hudson, the Webby-nominated family site, Built by Kids, and Tool Crave. When not working, you’ll find him on his board or bike enjoying the LA weather with his family and friends. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.
It’s often the case that your unit is not working for the simplest of reasons. In can be frustrating to pay out a hundred dollars or more just to have a technician come out and flip a breaker back on. There are some quick and easy checks you can perform yourself before you call for help from an air conditioner repair company. These checks often help you save a lot of money too. DIY Air Conditioner Repair Tips
1. Check your breakerIf the unit won't come on at all your breaker could have tripped. If you have several appliances, lights and other things on the same breaker often it will trip and the air conditioner will not operate. This is a quick check that can save you money, frustration, and even embarrassment. 2. Examine your thermostatThis is another part of the system that can cause you dollars and distress. If the unit is battery operated it may just need new batteries. Make sure you have the thermostat set for a temperature below the room temperature. Insure that the unit is not turned off or set to just have the fan blow. Settings can get inadvertently changed. 3. Change your filterMany air conditioner repairs can be avoided by consistently changing your filter. If your filter is dirty and clogged, it can cause many issues with your unit. Lack of air flow can cause a lack of cooling efficiency with the system. In some cases a clogged filter can lead to your system icing up. Filters should be checked often and changed on a regular basis. 4. Melt any iceIf your unit is iced up it will not cool properly. Melting the ice is a simple procedure. You can turn the system to off and run just the fan to help melt the ice quickly. Or you can just turn off the unit and let the ice melt on its own. 5. Give it a good cleaningOften the system may just be dirty. Instead of an actual air conditioner repair, the unit may just need to be cleaned. On the outside unit you can carefully clean the fan blades and remove any debris from inside or near the unit. The condenser fins can be cleaned also. Be very careful when fooling with blades and fins as they are easy to bend and break. Also, make sure the unit is off when you clean it. 6. Examine your ductsIf you feel comfortable climbing into your attic, check out your ducts to make sure air is coming out of them. In the event they are dirty enough to block air flow they will surely need to be cleaned. Often a register may have been accidentally closed partly or even all the way. A cursory check will show if air is flowing through the ducts. The steps above are some things you should try if your AC unit is on the blink. These can save you a lot of money before you call in a professional air conditioner repair company. Of course, some things dealing with air conditioner repair can only be handled by a competent and professional service company. Things like adding freon and electrical repairs have to be done by specialists.
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