Helpful Air Conditioning Tips

Here Are Some Helpful Air Conditioner Tips to Keep You Cool on those Hot Summer Days

It’s easy to panic if your air conditioner suddenly stops working in the dead heat of summer, but before you jump straight to seeking the professional help of Fenix Heating & Cooling, it’s good to keep in mind that there are many Helpful Air Conditioning Tips to find solutions to your problems that you can easily explore.

Knowing how to tackle these potential issues yourself can save you a tremendous amount of money. But of course, if you’re explored all of these tips, and are still unsure what the problem is or how to solve it, Fenix is always here to help. Just give our skilled technicians a call at 316-945-4842.

AC Tip #1 – Examine Your Thermostat

If your air conditioner is suddenly acting odd, the solution may be as simple as swapping out the batteries on your thermostat. Many thermostats are connected directly to the main power of your house, but there are also plenty that are powered solely by batteries.

Furthermore, you might be surprised to learn that a thermostat—and subsequently an air conditioner—may start to act funky (for lack of a better word) before the batteries have been completely drained.

So if your air conditioner doesn’t seem to be cooling properly, or if it’s randomly shutting off, and you have a thermostat powered solely by batteries, there’s a decent chance that the charge is beginning to run out.

Bonus Tip: These may seem obvious, but if you’re in a house with a large family, or a plethora of roommates, other people may be tweaking the thermostat without alerting anyone else in the household. Some like it cold, and some like it hot, after all.

AC Tip  #2 –  Swap Out Your Filter

If you’re trying your best to do any air conditioner maintenance or repair yourself, then the air filter is another great place to start. Air filters should be replaced or cleaned regularly – not doing so will cause them to become clogged with dirt and dust. If this obstruction becomes bad enough, then the air filter will cease filtering air and begin restricting it.

A lack of air flow through your air conditioner will, as you might imagine, drastically reduce cooling efficiency. An air filter that’s clogged badly enough may also cause ice to form in your air conditioning, which will only exacerbate the problem. But all these issues can easily be fixed yourself without having to call the professionals here at Fenix, but if you do have any questions, then feel free to give us a call anyway at 316-945-4842.

AC Tip #3 – Melt That Ice

Typically, it’s that lack of airflow that can cause ice to buildup in an air conditioner, but sometimes it can be caused by the refrigerant running low. If you’ve taken care of any airflow obstructions, and ice is still building up, then you might need to give one of the professionals here at Fenix a call.

But all you really need to do to clear that ice is to be patient. Just turn off your unit, wait until everything thaws, and then switch it on. The time it could take for this to happen could range between a couple hours to five or six.

It’s important, though, that you do not continue to operate the unit if there’s an ice buildup. There’s a good chance that this will permanently damage the motor, and potentially wear out the compressor. Also, avoid the urge to remove the ice yourself by scraping or picking at it. This may potentially damage your equipment as well. In the case of an ice buildup on your air conditioner, patience really is a virtue.

AC Tip #4 – Flip Your Breaker

If your air conditioner won’t turn on at all, then another great potential fix is to check out your breaker box. You’ll feel rather silly if you call the professionals here at Fenix, only to spend a decent amount of money only to have them flip a breaker.

If your air conditioner doesn’t traditionally cause a breaker to trip, then you may want to examine what else you may have connected to that circuit recently that might be overwhelming it. Air conditioning units, of course, draw a lot of power.

AC Tip #5 – Water Woes

Air conditioners are known to create a lot of condensation, which will eventually build up and flow out through the drainage pipe. In more humid climates, this could amount to a few gallons a day. This water will typically drain out through a plastic pipe or tube, which should lead outside, or to a nearby floor drain. Sometimes, there’s a condensation pump involved which can help speed up the process.

The moral of the story being this: your air conditioner should be generating a lot of water from normal operations, but that’s not anything you should ever expect to step in. if you are, then you have a problem. So if you notice water collecting somewhere along the drainage pipe or tube, then there’s likely a leak somewhere in that vicinity.

Alternatively, you may find water starting to pool near your air handler. This may also be caused by a leaking drainage pipe, but it can also be indicative of a blockage, or a non-functioning condensate pump. These pumps are easy to swap out, and typically cost about $50. It’s definitely something that you can do yourself.

These five air conditioning tips should give you a great start in diagnosing any potential issues that your AC unit may have. One or more of these steps may help you to fix the problem quickly and easily without having to pay for the help of one of the professionals here at Fenix, but if you’ve exhausted all your options and you’re still not able to solve your problem yourself, then feel free to give us a call at 316-945-4842.

Trust the Fenix Comfort Heroes to rescue you from your HVAC problems. Don’t wait until the first day of winter to discover your furnace is not working! Turn it on today. If it’s not running properly, contact us and we’ll work to get your system fixed before the first frost.

Join the Fenix Protection Plan Service Program today! You’ll receive some nice benefits, like 20% off all parts and labor and having the peace of mind to know that your HVAC unit is being serviced by the best comfort specialists in Wichita!

Visit our showroom to see all our trusted products on display at 802 West 2^nd St., just across from Wichita’s new library, or give us a call at 316-945-4842.

Be sure to check out our current promotions to get the best deal on meeting your comfort needs!