There’s nothing worse than waking up on the hottest day of the year to find your air conditioner isn’t doing what it’s supposed to do. But rather than calling your HVAC technician right away, there are a couple of things you can do yourself to get your unit up and running again.

Automatic vs. Fan Setting

The first thing you should do if your air conditioner isn’t cooling properly is check your thermostat. Often, it’s a matter of changing the setting from “Fan” back to “Automatic.” The Automatic setting turns on the air conditioning when the indoor temperature reaches above the temperature you’ve set the thermostat to. If the unit is switched to Fan, it simply blows air through the system without cooling it.

Check Your Filters

If you haven’t replaced your filters lately, this could be the reason your air conditioner doesn’t seem to be working properly. Clogged, dirty air filters can prevent the cool air from exiting the air conditioning system. Remove, clean or replace the filters in your air conditioner to improve airflow and get your home cool again.

Clear the Condensation Drain

Because your air conditioner works by removing humidity from the air in your home, that moisture has to go somewhere. Condensation drain hoses remove the moisture from your home, and because of all that moisture, they can experience mold or algae blockages. Clear out any blockages that you can see from the condensation drain line, and clean it with white vinegar to prevent future clogs.

Clear the Compressor

Your compressor unit typically sits outside, and if you haven’t been keeping the area around it clear, debris and leaves can prevent is from drawing in enough air to cool your home. Make sure you clear away anything that might be blocking or crowding the unit, and never put anything on top of the unit.

Call Your HVAC Technician

While you may be tempted to DIY most of the issues in your home, you should know when it’s time to call the professionals. While there are certain things you can fix yourself in your air conditioner, more serious problems with complicated solutions need to be addressed by your HVAC technician. If you’ve tried the above fixes and your unit is still not working optimally, call the pros.

Bryan’s Fuel is proud to serve the Orangeville, Shelburne, Collingwood, Caledon and Owen Sound areas. Contact Bryan’s Fuel today for all of your air conditioning and HVAC needs.