It’s the middle of a heat wave, one of those days when you wonder if you could fry an egg on the sidewalk, and the air conditioner has quit. Do you fiddle with the controls, go take a look at the a/c unit or call a neighbor? There are a few simple things that can be checked first.
* Someone in the household may have changed a setting on the controller. Take a look and make sure the wrong setting isn’t being used. If all else fails, find the owner’s manual that came with the unit or look it up on the internet.
* Air conditioning filters can get dirty and clogged up rather easily. If no one can remember the last time they were cleaned or replaced, then it’s definitely time to do that. That may solve the problem quickly, but if not, the filter needed to be cleaned regardless.
* If the compressor fails, the whole air conditioning system will fail. Is there any visible damage or strange noises? Is there any ice build-up? If the compressor is the problem, it’s time to call a professional to repair it.
* If everything seems OK so far, try to reset the air conditioner. Turn off the switch at the meter box. There may be an additional switch, the external isolator switch, which needs to be turned off on the compressor. Leave both switches in the ‘off’ position for a few minutes and then restart. This simple trick may be enough to get everything running again. If not, it’s time to call the air conditioning contractor.
Accurate Air Mechanical Services Inc. is a full service air conditioning, heating and refrigeration contractor serving homes and businesses in Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. This well-established, reputable firm belongs to several professional associations, including the Better Business Bureau, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers and the International Code Council. The firm is an authorized Trane air conditioning and heating dealer.
