How do I fix my AC if it’s not cooling?

An AC that is not blowing cold air on a hot day is not a fun situation to be in. Luckily there are ways to reduce the chances of this happening to you. When thinking of HVAC repair near me, you might assume you’ll have to spend thousands. After all, the HVAC system is one of the most expensive components of the home. However, there are simple steps you can take that may solve the problem, and we are here to give you the advice you’re looking for. 

When you have a running compressor, but your air conditioning unit is not producing cool air, there are several things that could be causing this problem. PECO Heating & Cooling is here to help you make your diagnostic process easier. The first steps to getting to the root of the problem are: 1.      Make sure each window and door in the home is closed 2.      Make sure your vents are open and not blocked by an object 3.      Make sure your thermostat is set to cool and turned down below room temperature (sometimes all it takes is an unusually hot day to make it seem like your AC is broken) 4.      Reset the indoor and outdoor units at the breaker (multiple double pole) and wait at least 5 minutes for the system to reboot (think rebooting your computer).  It will appear as nothing is happening, but it is extremely important to be patient. Before you assume the worst, below is a list of common sources of malfunction that often decrease the effectiveness of your air conditioning: 1. Clean Your Filter or Replace it First, turn off the power to your HVAC unit. Your filter will be located in the air handler cabinet and will be easily accessible from the door on the front. If you notice ice around the coils when you are replacing your filter, do not worry. Ice is a common sign of lack of airflow, but after you replace your filter it should melt within a few hours. Changing, or washing your filter (if you own one that is washable) may make a huge difference in your cool air coming through all on its own.  If there is ice on the coil or you can see ice, turn the COOLING setting to off and FAN to ON until the ice is gone.  PECO has partnered with Filter Fetch so you can conveniently get filters delivered to your home with free shipping, just ask us for details. Why will a clean air filter help bring in cool air? A dirty air filter causes a severe lack of air flow. This causes the evaporator coil to turn into a block of ice, which means it is soaking in all the cool air instead of your home! 2. Have your system cleaned by a Service Expert Take a look at your outdoor unit. Is it dirty and clogged by debris? This restricts air flow within your unit which can severely affect the efficiency of your unit. Over time, this will likely cause the compressor to overheat, resulting in costly repairs. Ask our team about scheduled maintenance. Spending money on maintaining your system may not sound too important. After all, if it’s not broken why mess with it? Well it works just like your car. You have your oil changed to keep your vehicle running smoothly. Same goes for your HVAC system. Scheduled maintenance will keep the most expensive system in your home running smoothly! 3. Check Your Electrical Wiring Most HVAC system failures are due to electrical issues. Inspect all the wiring, and if you notice something is wrong or are not sure, give us a call and we’ll send out one of our trained electricians. We understand that wiring can be very confusing, so we recommend having a trained specialist take a look. 4. Check Your Ductwork The primary function of your ductwork is to deliver and distribute the cooled finished product your HVAC has worked so hard to produce. If your ductwork is not sealed completely, or has cracks, you may be losing cool air. When your ductwork is cracked, the cool air is escaping through those cracks and the broken seal. This is not ideal because for one thing, you’re missing out on the cool air. On another note all of that cool air lost will make for a costly power bill. Give us a call to make sure your ductwork is sealed properly, it may save you more money than you expected. 5. Check for Refrigerant Leaks Refrigerant is what makes the whole HVAC system work. It is what removes excess hot air from inside and releases it outside, keeping you cooler longer. If you have completed all of the above steps, it may be time to call PECO Heating & Cooling and have a Service Expert come take a look at your system to ensure there are not refrigerant leaks. 6. Size of Current Unit Sometimes repair is as simple as learning that your air conditioning unit is the incorrect size for your home or business. Maybe that unit is too old and not as efficient. We are here to help you identify the culprit to the situation! Scheduled maintenance can you help you avoid costly repair! A great way to prevent a big HVAC repair cost is to invest in scheduled maintenance for your unit. With PECO Heating & Cooling’s Planned Maintenance Agreement, we will provide a variety of services twice a year to keep your system running like new. Plus, if there comes a time when there are necessary repairs you’ll receive an extra ten percent discount on any repairs, no after-hours charges, and even priority service. Check out this review from one of our happy customers that purchased our maintenance agreement:  Stars.” When you search for HVAC near me, look no further than PECO Heating & Cooling for the best HVAC repair and maintenance.