The cooling season has arrived in Sacramento. Is your air conditioner up to the task? If you turn on your air conditioner and get unexpected results, don’t assume the worst. There might be an easy fix! Homeowners can do some troubleshooting on their own before calling in a professional.

Following are some common A/C problems and some potential solutions:

• The A/C does not cool. It’s possible that the air conditioner simply needs to be cleaned. First, turn off the power; rake any leaves and debris away from the unit, and trim nearby shrubs that may block airflow. Next, remove the protective cover; use a soft brush to loosen dirt; vacuum the dirt that has been loosened; and use a hose from the inside of the unit to spray any remaining dirt away.
• The A/C does not turn on. Make sure the thermostat is on the cool setting, and check for blown fuses or tripped breakers.
• You find pooled water. If you find water pooling in the drain pan or near the unit, first check the tubes for leaks and repair them if necessary.  Make sure the condensate pump is working by pouring water into the pan to see if it kicks on automatically. If it doesn’t turn on, check the power supply; if it turns on but doesn’t pump, unscrew the check valve and make sure it is not obstructed. If you discover ice blocking the tube, replace the air filter if it’s dirty. If you discover algae blocking the tube, clean it with a bleach solution.

Problems such as a noisy air handler, major temperature swings, and room temperatures that are too low are typically best handled by a professional. These issues can indicate deeper problems with your air conditioner or thermostat that may require technical expertise.

If you could use some professional assistance, please contact the experts at All Year.  Whether you sign up for annual maintenance or just need a one-time repair, our HVAC service will help keep your equipment running efficiently all season long.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioning troubleshooting and other HVAC topics, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

All Year services the Greater Sacramento area.  To get started, check out our website.