If you’re anything like me, then you probably spend a lot of time in your home. In addition to providing you with a place to relax and unwind, your home is also where you spend most of your time. That being said, it makes sense that your air conditioner plays an important role in helping keep you cool and comfortable in the summer months. After all, who wants to be sweating their butt off while they’re trying to relax or do some housework? Thankfully, most ACs are fairly idiot-proof when it comes to fixing them. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that all AC repair services are cheap or quick. That being said, here are some tips on how you can fix your air conditioning issue on your own at a low cost and with minimal hassle.
Have you checked the filters?
The first thing that you should do before you even start thinking about repairing your AC is to make sure that the filters are clean. The filters in your AC are designed to trap hair and other particulate matter that gets inside the unit. If you don’t clean them or change them on a regular basis, then you run the risk of having this debris clog your unit and drastically reduce its efficiency. If you have a professional cleaning your unit on a regular basis, then you might be able to let them do this for you, but if not, then you should change your filters regularly. When changing your filters, it’s also important to make sure to change them when they’re warm to avoid letting any dirt into your unit.
Have you turned off your water valve?
It might sound extreme, but if you haven’t actually turned off your water valve then your air conditioner will continue to run while you’re on vacation. This will cause the water level in your air conditioner to drop, which will result in it running longer and using more energy. The best thing to do in this situation is to turn off your water valve. Many houses have a valve by the water meter that you can turn off by pulling it to the ‘off’ position. If yours does, then you should definitely make sure to keep an eye on it and make sure that it stays off while you’re away.
Make sure the air return is clean.
The air return is the part of your air conditioner that sucks in the air from the room you’re in and blows it back out into the room. If this isn’t clean, then it can cause your AC to run more and use more energy. To clean it, you can use a water and bleach solution along with some pipe cleaner. Make sure to clean this part with the solution and then let it dry completely before turning on your AC again.
Have you checked your freon?
If your AC is low on freon then it will run less efficiently, which will mean that you’ll have to spend more on energy and use more Freon. If you ever notice that your unit is running low on freon or that it’s not working properly, then you should first consult with a professional to make sure there’s nothing wrong with it. If you don’t have access to a professional, then you can purchase freon to top it up.
Are you using the right size filter?
If you’re unsure as to what kind of filter your AC needs, then it’s best to go with the right size. This is because when you install a new filter, it’ll automatically reconfigure itself to work with your unit. That being said, it’s also important to note that you should change your filter every month or two depending on how dirty it is. Now, if you’re not sure what size filter your system requires, then you can try to make an educated guess by looking at your current filter. If it’s clean, then chances are it’s too big. Now, you can try to guess by looking at the outside of your filter and see if it’s clogged.
Check to see if dust is blocking your vents.
If you’ve been out of town for a bit and you’ve neglected to clean out your vents, then there’s a chance that they’ve been covered in dust. If this happens, then your AC won’t be able to cool the house as efficiently. To fix this, you can simply use a shop vac and suck out all of the dust that’s clogging your vents. This is also a great way to clean some of your air return as well. If you need to vacuum your air return, you can use a shop vac with a hose attachment. You can also try blowing out your vents with a hair dryer.
Don’t forget to lock up and be safe!
As you probably already guessed, the biggest thing that’s keeping you from repairing your AC on your own is safety. That being said, it’s important that you make sure that you’re locking up your house and locking your windows from the inside as well. If a thief were to break into your house, then you don’t want them to be able to walk out the front door. That being said, you can also use a Security Camera System to make sure that this doesn’t happen. Depending on the severity of your AC issue, you can also call a repair service to come to fix your AC. Now, depending on the AC company you call, they might come out and look at it and tell you that it’s not worth repairing. That being said, there are some companies that will come out and take a look at your AC when you call, then give you a quote. Then, they’ll only charge you for the service if it’s worth repairing.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you want to fix your air conditioner yourself, then you should make sure to change your filters regularly and make sure that your air return is clean. Additionally, if you don’t know what size filter your air conditioner requires, then you should go with what’s recommended. Now, if you want to save some money and prevent yourself from getting pinched, then you should make sure to call a repair service to come to fix your AC.