Summer's here and that means long, hot days. Your air conditioning unit had better be in good shape because you're going to be using it a lot. If your air conditioning unit isn't cooling, however, there are a few steps you should follow to determine the cause. It may be that you need an entirely new air conditioning unit.
However, buying a new unit entirely is very expensive. That's why you should try everything else first before you start spending big bucks just to keep cool this summer. If you have a window air conditioning unit, you really need to make sure it's working and that the seals around the window are sound.
This article, though, is designed to help those with central air as that is the most common type of air conditioning unit for both apartments as well as homes. First, make sure the air filters are new and clean. Second, make sure your coils are clean. Third, make sure your unit has Freon. If nothing works, you need to call out an expert who will let you know if you need a new air conditioning unit or not.
Air Filter
Your air conditioning unit sucks air in through your home and then cools it where it sends it back out through your vents. When it sucks air, it also sucks in dust and other impurities in the air. You don't want all that junk travelling through your air conditioning unit so it's recommended that you use a clean air filter. Check your air filter and see if it's clean.
Ideally you should change your filter once every thirty days or so. If the filter's dirty, your unit is going to work too hard to pull air into the condenser. If this occurs, the unit could freeze up or break altogether. So make sure your filter is clean.
Coils
The air that's brought into the unit travels through cooling coils that cool the air. If the coils are dirty, not much air is going to get through and your home or apartment is going to remain hot. You can clean the coils yourself or you can hire an expert. You'll need to use an acid mixture to clean the coils so it is kind of a dangerous procedure. Clean coils, however, mean cooler air so make sure those coils remain clean throughout the summer.
Freon
Make sure your air conditioning unit has plenty of Freon. You should only have to charge your air conditioning unit with more Freon once a year. Any more than that and you may have a leak. Finding a leak is difficult however, and so you might have to hire someone to come out and do it for you.
Your air conditioning unit should be checked at the beginning of the summer so that it can provide you with cool air all season long. Don't spend money if you don't have to. Try all of these tips first and then, if you absolutely have to, call the A/C guy out to make sure your unit is still working. It may be that you need a new air conditioning unit entirely but you'll be glad you bought one when your house remains cool as the days get hotter and hotter.
However, buying a new unit entirely is very expensive. That's why you should try everything else first before you start spending big bucks just to keep cool this summer. If you have a window air conditioning unit, you really need to make sure it's working and that the seals around the window are sound.
This article, though, is designed to help those with central air as that is the most common type of air conditioning unit for both apartments as well as homes. First, make sure the air filters are new and clean. Second, make sure your coils are clean. Third, make sure your unit has Freon. If nothing works, you need to call out an expert who will let you know if you need a new air conditioning unit or not.
Air Filter
Your air conditioning unit sucks air in through your home and then cools it where it sends it back out through your vents. When it sucks air, it also sucks in dust and other impurities in the air. You don't want all that junk travelling through your air conditioning unit so it's recommended that you use a clean air filter. Check your air filter and see if it's clean.
Ideally you should change your filter once every thirty days or so. If the filter's dirty, your unit is going to work too hard to pull air into the condenser. If this occurs, the unit could freeze up or break altogether. So make sure your filter is clean.
Coils
The air that's brought into the unit travels through cooling coils that cool the air. If the coils are dirty, not much air is going to get through and your home or apartment is going to remain hot. You can clean the coils yourself or you can hire an expert. You'll need to use an acid mixture to clean the coils so it is kind of a dangerous procedure. Clean coils, however, mean cooler air so make sure those coils remain clean throughout the summer.
Freon
Make sure your air conditioning unit has plenty of Freon. You should only have to charge your air conditioning unit with more Freon once a year. Any more than that and you may have a leak. Finding a leak is difficult however, and so you might have to hire someone to come out and do it for you.
Your air conditioning unit should be checked at the beginning of the summer so that it can provide you with cool air all season long. Don't spend money if you don't have to. Try all of these tips first and then, if you absolutely have to, call the A/C guy out to make sure your unit is still working. It may be that you need a new air conditioning unit entirely but you'll be glad you bought one when your house remains cool as the days get hotter and hotter.
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