It can be unbearably hot in the Sunshine State, especially when your AC goes out. We get it. And you may assume that it could be difficult to get a trained AC technician to come out to your home on short notice, so your first inclination may be to attempt to fix your air conditioner yourself.
While Easy AC has 24-hour AC repair service, we see a lot of “home remedies” that people have concocted as they’re waiting for one of our competitors to arrive. Although you may think that you know what you’re doing, there are several reasons you shouldn’t attempt to fix your AC. Only a licensed and trained AC technician should handle AC repairs, regardless of how minor you think they are. After all, we’ve seen some fixes that have ended up costing people more money than they would have paid had they left the air conditioner repairs to us. And others that could have ended in disaster.
Problems with Your AC? Here are the Top Signs Your AC Needs to Be Repaired.
Take the Time to Troubleshoot
There’s no reason to panic if your AC goes out. It may seem like a very serious situation, but you can take comfort in the fact that Easy AC has 24-hour air conditioner repair service, so a trained AC technician is just a phone call away. However, before you call us, take some time to do some simple troubleshooting first.
Check the Power
Before doing anything else, check your AC’s power. If your AC won’t turn on, you may only have a tripped circuit or a blown fuse. Head to your breaker box and check if any of the switches are in the center position. If you find one that’s been tripped, turn it off and then back on.
If that doesn’t do the trick, find the switch that controls your air conditioner, and turn it off and then back on. If that doesn’t reset the connection, you can also locate the fuse that’s utilized to operate the blower. If you see a dark spot in the glass part of the fuse, the fuse is likely burned out.
Turn on the AC’s Fan
To determine if your air conditioner has power, you can try turning on the fan on your thermostat. If you switch the fan to “on” and it starts, the blower is getting power, so there could be a problem with the thermostat or a bigger issue with the AC unit. If it doesn’t go on, there may be an issue with the blower.
Check Your Thermostat
One of your family members may have accidentally changed the setting on your thermostat and switched it off “auto” or “cool.” You should also check the temperature to make sure it hasn’t been set at a higher level. Finally, your thermostat may run off batteries, so check to make sure they are still good. As mentioned, there could also be an issue with the thermostat itself, but that won’t be a quick fix.
Check the Air Filter
If your AC’s air filter is dirty or clogged, your AC unit could malfunction. It’s important to regularly change air filters (every few months), particularly in Florida, where your AC could be running nonstop. If you haven’t changed yours recently, it could be the reason your air conditioner is not working.
5 Things You Shouldn’t Do When Your AC Goes Out
If none of the troubleshooting steps work, one of Easy AC’s trained AC technicians will be able to diagnose the problem and fix your air conditioner. So in the meantime, gather some information and please don’t try any of the following:
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Open Your Freezer and Attempt to Blow Cold Air Out with a Fan
While it may not be dangerous at first, the longer you keep your freezer door open, the more the contents inside are prone to melt. When your freezer begins to thaw, water will begin dripping, which could short out the fan you’re attempting to use to blow out the cold air. If you’re nearby, you could injure yourself.
Leaving the door open places a lot of stress on your freezer. There’s absolutely no way you can cool your entire home this way, and you’ll also ruin all of your frozen food.
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Start Taking Apart Your AC
Many people begin haphazardly troubleshooting on their own because they assume they’ll have to wait too long for an AC technician to be available. Unless you have a background in AC maintenance and wiring, avoid the desire to disassemble your AC unit. Easy AC has 24-hour AC repair service, so there’s no reason to take matters into your own hands. You will save time and money in the long run, not to mention saving yourself from potential injury.
Even when you know what you’re doing, taking apart an old AC unit may cause brittle and worn pieces to break. If that happens, there’s not much you can do until a trained AC technician arrives.
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Use a Sledgehammer to Try to Fix the Problem
It should go without saying that you shouldn’t use a sledgehammer to attempt to fix your air conditioner, but sometimes people get frustrated when their AC goes out. However, nothing positive can come of this, so don’t do it.
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Duct Tape the AC Lines Back Together After Severing Them
This should also go without saying, but sometimes we see AC lines and pipes that have been severed by a weed wacker. Put the power and hand tools away. You might be upset, but once you damage your air conditioner, taping it back up won’t solve the problem and will ultimately cost you more money to fix.
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Duct Tape Fans to Your Home’s Walls and Ceilings
People come up with some inventive ways to cool their homes including duct taping fans to walls and ceilings. This is not a remedy either. Not only could you hurt yourself, but you could damage your walls, ceilings, and furnishings.
Taking some time to troubleshoot potential issues with your air conditioner is a good first step after your AC goes out. If your air conditioner doesn’t come back on after trying any of the solutions in the first part of this post, use common sense and don’t do anything rash. You don’t want to injure yourself or damage your air conditioner. Plus, if your AC is still under guarantee, you could void the warranty, which could cost you more money. There are simple solutions that can help keep your home and your family cooler until one of Easy AC’s trained technicians arrives.
The bottom line is that you won’t save money or time if you decide to attempt to fix your home’s air conditioner. At best you could damage your AC and at worst you could hurt yourself. Instead, rely on the experts.
Contact a Trained, Certified Technician for Your Air Conditioner Repair
Easy AC has trained technicians on call around the clock. We’ll be able to figure out what’s wrong with your air conditioner and offer the best solution, whether it’s repairing or replacing it. We’re here when you need us, so feel free to call us at 813-COLDAIR (813-265-3247) whenever the need arises. And we offer affordable financing to those who qualify.