During a stretch of hot weather, you may have noticed that your central air conditioner is not keeping your home as cool as it once did. If so, try the simple solutions suggested below to see if a small problem is interfering with your air conditioner's cooling ability.
Check the Thermostat
The first thing you should do when your house does not feel cool enough is to check the thermostat. Although it may seem simple, there are a couple of problems doing this one easy task could solve.
First, look at the temperature setting. It is possible that someone simply changed the setting without telling you. Or maybe you or another household member may have accidentally bumped the controls.
Second, the power on the thermostat may be low. If it runs on batteries or has a battery backup system, it may not be getting enough electrical juice to keep the signals to the air conditioning unit strong. Change the battery to see if this has any effect on your home's temperature.
Change the Filter
Another reason your air conditioner may not be cooling your home completely is a clogged filter. If dust has blocked the fibers in the filter, it will inhibit the air flow through the unit and your system.
Change or clean the filter, depending on if your system uses a disposable or reusable one. Then wait a few hours to see if your air conditioner works more efficiently.
Melt Any Ice Built up on the Compressor
One other problem with your air conditioner could be caused by ice that has built up on the compressor. When this happens, the compressor becomes frozen and unable to cool the air. It also blocks the air flow, compounding the problem and resulting in more ice buildup.
If you find ice on the compressor, turn off the unit and give it time to melt completely. Then turn the system back on. Check the compressor periodically throughout the next couple of days to see if ice re-forms. If so, there may be an issue with the compressor that needs to be fixed by a professional.
Even after trying the above tips, you may still find that your air conditioner is not cooling your home as well as it should. If that is the case, contact an HVAC contractor who offers air-conditioning repair services. They can inspect the system to find the specific problem and offer solutions for fixing your air conditioning unit. You can discover more here.
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