Windows are open and Long Island homeowners are getting ready for the brutally hot summer months. By maintaining your air conditioning unit, you are not only saving energy but money too! Keep in mind these DIY fix it tips and helpful maintenance tricks!

What To Do If Your Air Conditioner Is Not Working At All

First, your air conditioning unit should be on its own 240v circuit breaker. Next, be sure your thermostat is set to the COOL setting. Next, check all of your breakers for blown fuses. You will have to reset the breaker or replace the fuses as needed. If you use an AC coil in your furnace ductwork, check to make sure furnace power is in the ON position and that the outside compressor is also on (Its usually a metal box mounted on the house near the unit). Third, turn off the power and while off remove and replace the batteries for the associated cooling thermostat. If it is battery operated, wait a few minutes before turning it back on, so you are essentially rebooting the system according to hometips.com.

What To Do If Your Air Conditioner Is Not Cold Enough

Your air conditioner is on; it sounds like it is running but the air coming out isn’t super cold. This could mean a few things. Head over to the air handler cabinet and check that filter, it could have collected lots of dirt, dust, and pet hair over the winter. You should clean or replace the filter. Generic air filters need to be replaced about every 3 months. Larger media filters about once a year. While changing the filters, look around for frost or ice on the coils of the unit. If the filters were dirty and you see frost or ice, after replacing the filters you can turn the unit back on and the fan should melt the ice within a few hours. If the filters were clean and you see ice, call your HVAC contractor for a service visit.

What To Do If Your Air Handler Is Leaking Water Or It The Drain Pan Is Filled With Water

Air conditioners remove moisture from the air, and it drains out of your condensate lines to the outside. Algae can build up and block the drain pipe and cause excess water in the pan to shut down the unit. It’s also a possibility that the pump is blocked with algae; you can use a wet/dry vacuum to clear both the pump or the blockage. You can also kill the algae. To kill algae, you can mix your own solution of one part bleach to 16 parts water and run it through the clogged tube. If you cannot clear the clog, call your HVAC contractor to inspect your system and blow out your condensate lines.

Manage Your Energy Expenses

The average home spends hundreds of dollars on energy costs every year. According to psegliny.com, the power supply charge varies on each individual home’s usage. Basically, you pay for what you use. You can manage your usage, especially in the summer by following these simple tips:

1. Install a programmable thermostat and set it high, maybe to 85 degrees so the system turns on less or not at all, or turn it off completely when you are not home.
2. Seal all holes and cracks around windows and doors to eliminate air leaks while running air conditioning systems, mainly window units though as they may have foam insulation or weather stripping around the units.
3. You should replace older appliances such as refrigerators and freezers with newer, energy efficient Energy Star appliances. You should also set the temperatures on these appliances to their most energy efficient settings; 35-38 degrees F is suggested for refrigerators and 0 degrees F for freezers.

When in doubt, always contact a professional. Tragar Home Services is a Long Island-based and family-owned business that provides exceptional heating and cooling services. Tragar conveniently offers air conditioning repair services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, just call (516) 221-2559 or fill out this form for a service request.