Tips for AC Repair and Maintenance

Frigidaire Air Conditioner Repair

Tread lightly with your gas furnace

Do-it-yourself heating and cooling isn't recommended for any heating and cooling equipment, but particularly with your furnace. The last thing your want is carbon monoxide or gas leaking into your home. If you need to explore the interior of your unit to diagnose a problem, it is better to put down the screwdriver and contact your local contractor.

Is your thermostat set to the right temperature?

Like with air conditioners and heat pumps, your thermostat will need to be set at the right temperature in order to fully receive the benefits of your furnace. You must set your thermostat at a temperature above the current level in the home in order for the unit to kick on.

Is your gas turned on?

If no gas is being supplied to your unit, it is not going to be able to operate. Call your local natural gas supplier and make sure that your gas line is intact and there is gas going to your unit.

Is electricity being supplied to the unit?

Your gas furnace also needs electricity to kick on. Make sure that your furnace is turned on and that electricity is being supplied to the unit.

Have you blown a fuse or tripped the circuit breaker?

Check your circuit breaker and make sure that it wasn't tripped or a fuse hasn't blown. If a fuse has been blown, replace the fuse and see if your gas furnace will kick on then.

Is the blower motor running?

If your furnace is on, but the blower motor isn't running, the warmed air from your furnace will not be distributed throughout your home. If this is the case, turn off your system and call your local contractor.

Maybe it's time to call your local HVAC professional?

Heat Pump Troubleshooting

Is your thermostat set at an appropriate temperature?

Your heat pump is not going to turn on if it is set at a temperature that is above or below the current temperature of your home (depending on whether you are in cooling or heating mode). Make sure to set your thermostat at a temperature below the current reading in your home if your heat pump is in cooling mode, or above the current reading in your home if your heat pump is in heating mode. If it still isn’t turning on, you may have a bigger issue.

Which mode is your thermostat set on?

If it’s hot outside and your heat pump is in heating mode, your home will not reach the cool, comfortable temperatures you desire. Double check and make sure that your thermostat is set to the appropriate operating mode for the temperature outside.

Is the system turned on?

It may seem silly to ask, but you may not be aware that your HVAC system has been turned off. Check the power sources for your outdoor condenser and indoor component (whether that is a gas furnace or an air handler). Make sure each unit is receiving power.

Has your circuit breaker tripped?

If your units are turned on, and you are still not receiving power, you may want to check and make sure that the fuse or circuit breaker that controls that equipment hasn’t blown or tripped.

Can you see damage to your condenser?

If you can see obvious damage to the exterior of your heat pump, you may have some internal damage as well. If the interior components of your heat pump aren’t able to function properly you are not going to receive cool or warm air throughout your home. Call your local contractor so they can find out if there is internal damage to your heat pump condenser.

Is it time to call a professional?

Your heat pump can only provide year-round heating and cooling power if it is working at its performance potential. If your units are receiving power and they are still not turning on, it’s time to pick up the phone and call your local heating and cooling specialist.

Furnace Blowing Cold Air/Air Conditioner Not Blowing Cold Air

Are your registers opened?

The cool air that is produced by your air conditioner or heat pump is delivered through your home through ductwork. Registers are the gateway between the duct and the room that needs the conditioned air. Make sure that your registers are opened so that the air can make it into your living space.

Is your thermostat set to the appropriate mode?

If you are expecting cold air to be coming out of your vents, but it is hot air. It could simply be that your thermostat is set to heat your home instead of to cool your home. Check your thermostat and make sure that it is set to the appropriate mode.

Is airflow being restricted by a dirty filter?

If you can easily find your furnace filter, check it to make sure there isn’t dirt and grime blocking air from leaving your indoor component and being distributed throughout your home. It’s good practice to check your air filter anyway to make sure that the air you are breathing is fresh.

Are there visible signs of duct damage?

A collapsed or detached portion of your ductwork could be preventing cool air from being delivered to your home. If you can see visible duct damage, call your local contractor and have them come out and repair the damaged duct. Your local contractor will be able to examine your ductwork and find out if there are any problems.

Is your unit still not running properly?

If the unit is running, but air is not coming out of the vents – or if air is coming out, but not at the correct temperature – turn off your system so that you avoid further damage to the unit.

Is it time to call your local HVAC professional?

I Have Hot and Cold Spots in My Home

Are registers to the problem area open?

If some areas of your home have open registers and some do not, you are going to experience uneven temperatures. It is not best practice to regulate the temperature settings of different rooms by opening and closing registers. Keep your registers open for premium performance.

Do you have a zoning system?

As opposed to opening and closing your registers, you should invest in a zoning system to control the temperature of individual rooms or groups of rooms. If you have a zoning system and you are still experiencing uneven temperatures, you could have a faulty damper. The best way to diagnose and fix this problem is by contacting your local HVAC specialist.

Did your contractor perform a Manual J load calculation?

When your air conditioner, furnace or heat pump was originally installed, did your contractor take the time to perform a Manual J load calculation? This calculation determines the size of the equipment that your home should have installed in it. A system that is not the correct size for your home will never be able to heat or cool your home correctly and could result in hot and cold spots. The only way to remedy this problem is to have a new unit installed in your home that is properly sized.

Time to call your local HVAC professional

Uncomfortable Humidity in Home

Did your contractor perform a Manual J load calculation when your unit was installed?

Like with many things pertaining to heating and cooling, installation is critical for the performance levels of your equipment. If your heating and air conditioning equipment is too large for your home, it will get your home to the correct temperature too quickly, not allowing enough time to properly remove the humidity from your air. Talk to your contractor about having the correct sized equipment installed in your home.

Get in touch with your local heating and cooling professional?

If high humidity levels are making your home hot or you are plagued by a dry home, contact your local contractor to find the root cause of the problem and find a solution – whether that is a correctly sized unit for your home or additional dehumidification/humidifying power for your home.

HVAC Won't Turn Off

Is your thermostat operating properly?

If your thermostat isn’t signaling when your equipment should be turning off, it could cause your equipment to constantly run. Follow reset instructions on your thermostat and see if that fixes the problem. If not, you may have to call a contractor out to replace your old thermostat.

Is your cooling unit producing cool air (and vice versa)?

If your air conditioner, heat pump or furnace isn’t treating the air and simply pushing untreated air through your ducts there could be a problem with the coils, refrigerant, burner, etc. Trying to fix this problem yourself IS NOT recommended. Turn off your unit through the thermostat to avoid further damage and contact your local heating and cooling contractor.

Did your contractor perform a Manual J load calculation when installing your unit?