Central air-conditioning
should keep your house cool.
Central air-conditioning makes the summer months bearable, especially in hot and humid climates, so if your unit is not working correctly, getting the problem fixed will probably be a top priority. There are a number of reasons that your air-conditioner is not cooling down your house, including everything from a clogged filter to a flipped breaker switch, so it may be difficult to pinpoint the exact problem. The best course of action is to make the easy repairs and fixes first, before calling in a professional. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Check the windows and doors around your house for cracks or openings. Gaps that are wide enough can flood the area with warm air on hot days, causing your air-conditioner to have issues keeping up. This issue will also normally cause isolated rooms to feel extra cold, as the extra air-conditioning is being pumped everywhere to try and make up for the heat in the main living space.
2. Feel the air that is coming out of your vents. If it is warm, your system may have frozen over after running continuously. Turn the unit off for an hour, and then turn it back on, to see if that fixed the issue.
3. Check the outdoor unit to make sure it is running. Often the indoor air handler and the outdoor compressor are on different switches, making you think the whole unit is working when it really isn't. If the unit is off, check the breaker box to correct the issue.
4. Remove and clean the air filter on the indoor air handler. The location of the filter will vary depending on your exact unit, but it will be located somewhere on the side of the unit. You may have to loosen a few screws that hold the filter in place to get it out, then just wipe the collected dust away.
5. Check the air handler for a switch labeled "Summer/Winter" and flip it to the "Summer" position. Not all units will have this, but if yours is set to the wrong season, it can cause the cool air not to make it to the vents.
6. Turn the power off to the outdoor air-conditioning unit. Clean the area around the unit, then unscrew and remove the top cover. Clean out dirt or debris inside the unit. Cover the motor with a garbage bag and spray the fins with a water hose to clear out any debris. Reassemble the unit, turn it back on and see if the air is any cooler.
7. Check all the duct work that you can reach, which will normally be in the attic. Run your hand along the ducts and see of your can feel cool air leaking out anywhere. You can attempt to patch holes with duct tape, although you will eventually need a professional to come and fix your ducts.
Tags: your house, Central air-conditioning, indoor handler, turn back, unit working, your air-conditioner
