How to know if your air conditioner is broken

One of the worst problems you can face as a homeowner is finding out that your air conditioner is not performing well just as temperature outside begin to soar. You may be wondering if your air conditioner is actually broken or if it’s another issue that is preventing effective cooling within your home. Here are some things that you can check to determine if your air conditioner is actually broken and you need to call an HVAC professional to fix the issue.

How to know if your air conditioner is broken:

1. If your air conditioner does not appear to be on at all, check your electrical panel to make sure that the switch controlling your AC unit has not been tripped.
2. Locate the switch for the fan on your AC unit and turn it to “on.” If the fan starts then you know your air conditioner is getting power. If it doesn’t turn on you might have a problem with the blower.
3. Check the thermostat settings to make sure they have not been switched off of the “cool” or “auto” settings.
4. If you have a programmable thermostat, make sure it is still on and, if it has died, replace its batteries.
5. Check the coils on your air conditioner. If they are being blocked, or if they are dirty, then they won’t function properly.
6. Check the air filter located near the furnace of your central air unit. If it is dirty or clogged it could be negatively affecting your air conditioner’s ability to cool your home.
7. If none you don’t find any of the issues above and your air conditioner still isn’t cooling your home, then your air conditioner is most likely broken or experiencing a problem that only a professional can easily fix.

If your air conditioner is in fact broken, or if you need assistance in assessing your home cooling problem, call FLAME Heating and Cooling at (888) 234-2340.