When you experience a problem with your home’s air conditioner, you may feel stressed because you’re too warm, combined with the fear of the cost of repairs. Unfortunately, the excess heat in your home may inhibit your thought process and lead to decisions that’ll cost you more in the long run. Consider these eight things you should avoid when your AC isn’t working properly.
1. Keep Trying to Use Your AC
It’s tempting to ignore the initial symptoms of a problem with your air conditioner. You may notice that there’s little air coming from your vents, that the air is warm, or that your outside condensing unit is making an unusual noise. All these signal that something isn’t working properly and that you should turn the system off. Continuing to run your system with these problems will never solve it, and will eventually lead to larger, more expensive problems, including a full system replacement. If you notice a small problem, turn your AC off until you can get it properly solved.
2. Attempt to Fix It Yourself
There are only a few things you should try doing yourself to fix your AC problem. These include:
- Replacing your air filter
- Clearing debris from around your outside unit
- Cleaning the condensate drain
- Ensuring your vents are open and clear
- Checking the thermostat batteries and settings
- Checking the circuit breaker
A professional technician should always conduct any repairs that include disassembling the unit or replacing a component. Trying to do it yourself poses a significant risk of personal injury and risks voiding your air conditioner’s warranty.
3. Rush Out for a Portable Unit
It’s also tempting to rush out to a local retailer and purchase a portable or window AC unit when your central or ductless system goes out. While these units may provide some minor relief, they usually won’t effectively cool the shared spaces in your home. They also cost as much, if not more, as many minor repairs. Finally, you’ll likely significantly increase your energy consumption to run them, which uses additional funds that could have gone toward repairing the underlying AC problem.
4. Stay Home
When the temperatures get too uncomfortable, consider getting away from your home during the hottest part of the day. Go shopping, enjoy a meal out, visit friends or family, or take a trip to your local library or one of the Guelph area libraries. There are plenty of options to get out of the house and find a little relief from the heat.
5. Use Heat-Generating Appliances
The last thing you want to do is add even more heat to your home when your AC isn’t working, so limit how much you use heat-generating appliances. This includes your oven and range, dishwasher, clothes dryer, and even hot showers. If you must use these, try to keep it to the morning, before the heat sets in, or in the evening, after the heat starts subsiding.
6. Open Your Freezer
There are some people who believe that opening the freezer will help cool their home. Unfortunately, this only risks thawing all your frozen food while straining your freezer. You’ll experience greater ice buildup, and it could cause the freezer to break under the strain. A freezer is intended to cool a very small space, not the entire house. The best thing you can do is reduce how many times you open the freezer, so you don’t thaw out your frozen foods.
7. Throw Open Your Windows Midday
When your air conditioner isn’t working properly, it’s tempting to throw open the windows to create a breeze through your home. This is a great plan when the temperature outside is cooler than the temperature inside. However, during the heat of the day, your home’s insulation will help keep it cooler when you leave the windows shut.
8. Rush to the First Available Repair Technician
It’s also tempting to rush to the AC repair company that can get to your home the quickest to repair your air conditioner. Keep in mind that most air conditioners break down during the hottest parts of the summer, leaving nearly every experienced HVAC company hustling to get everyone’s system back up and running. Rushing to whoever’s available first may leave you paying higher fees or settling for less experience, which may cost more in improperly diagnosed repairs.
People around Guelph have trusted Hy-Mark to keep their home’s heating and AC equipment working effectively for over a decade. Our dedicated team provides heating and AC repair, maintenance, and installation along with indoor air quality, ventilation solutions, and a full range of residential plumbing services. Call (226) 917-2686 to schedule your AC repair appointment with one of our expert technicians today.
