As summer heat waves set in across the Chicago Southland, we turn to air conditioners to reduce humidity and high temperatures in our homes. But what happens when a heat wave rolls into town and your AC suddenly stops working? You contact Maertin Heating & Cooling, of course!
While you wait for your professional technician to arrive, here are a few things you can check to get started.
The first and most obvious step to diagnosing why your AC isn’t working is to check the power supply. Air conditioners use a fair amount of power so it’s possible your AC isn’t working because of a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker. If the power supply is connected and your AC still isn’t working or isn’t working well enough to battle the heat, you can move to the next troubleshooting step.
Another common cause of a malfunctioning AC system is a dirty air filter. Dirty air filters reduce air flow and force your AC to work harder to maintain proper temperature. Regularly replacing your HVAC air filter might help your AC move air more efficiently and allow your equipment to keep up with the summer heat.
If your air filter is clean and new and your AC is still struggling to keep up, go outside and check your unit’s compressor. The compressor is covered in thin metal fins meant to disperse heat outside the home. Sometimes, those fins can get covered in dirt or filled with debris. Your Maertin trained technician will clean these fins to help your AC remove heat more effectively and can improve the appliance’s performance.
Another possible failure point for your AC is the drain line. As your AC unit moves cold air, condensation can build up. Normally, this condensation drains through a dedicated line from the equipment. Sometimes that line can get clogged with build-up or debris, causing water to back up into the system. If the line gets blocked, that condensation can build up in the appliance and cause performance issues. Your Maertin expert will clean this line for you.
Another common AC problem is freezing compressor coils. If your AC isn’t maintained properly, air flow gets reduced and moisture builds up on the condenser coils. Too much build up without enough warm air flow will lead to freezing and frost build up on the condenser coils and potentially throughout the system.
If you suspect your AC has frozen over, call Maertin HVAC and turn your AC off immediately. Do not remove any ice buildup yourself, as it can cause more damage to the sensitive interior components of the appliance. We’ll arrive, assess the situation and get it repaired safely as quickly as possible.
And finally, if the power is working, the air flow is good, and the appliance is clean, and your AC is still not cooling your home, it’s possible the problem is a refrigerant leak. Your AC needs refrigerant to change the air temperature in your house. Over time or by way of damage, your AC system can begin leaking refrigerant. If you suspect a refrigerant leak, contact Maertin HVAC to identify the location of the leak, repair it and replace the lost refrigerant.
It’s important to remember that while there are some steps you can take on your own to improve AC air flow and performance, an air conditioner is a complex and complicated piece of technology. DYI repairs can end up costing you more money and more time. If improving air flow on your own doesn’t improve your AC’s performance, your trained and knowledgeable Maertin Heating & Cooling technician can help identify and correct the issue so you can stay cool this summer.
Experiencing issues with your air conditioning? Call us at 708-479-9350 or email scheduling@maertinheating.com for 24/7 service!
