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When it comes to your air conditioner, you may be tempted to DIY some repairs in an attempt to save money. But there are some things that you really should not attempt repairing on your own, and instead leave the job up to our professional team.
Keep reading to learn how you can care for your air conditioner on your own and when to call for professional service. Remember, most steps for AC maintenance are better left to a team of professionals and we are always here to help with all of your air conditioning needs, big and small.
What Can You DIY for Your AC?
There is very little that you should do for yourself when it comes to your air conditioner. Most tasks need to be left up to professional technicians who have the education and experience to handle delicate AC components. However, there are a few things you can do for your air conditioner.
Filter Care
If you suspect that airflow problems are hurting your air conditioner, try changing out the filter. If you have a particularly high-quality filter, it may be woven too tightly and block airflow into your system. You can try purchasing a slightly lower-quality filter with a less dense weave that allows more airflow to pass through. Ideally, you want to use a filter with a MERV rating of 8 to 12. Anything stronger than a 12 is just adding strain to your air conditioner because the unit doesn’t have enough power to pull airflow through.
Cleaning – Inside and Out
You can also wipe down the exterior cabinet located inside your home. You don’t have to worry about cleaning the intricate components inside the unit, as that is something that our team takes care of during annual maintenance. But wiping down the outside is a good way to limit the amount of dust getting into your air conditioner.
While you’re at it, you can hose down the outdoor unit using gentle water pressure to eliminate dirt buildup outside. Your outdoor unit is constantly bombarded by weather and elements. It’s easy for small pieces of debris and dirt buildup to create a grimy layer. By rinsing off the outdoor unit, you can keep airflow moving so your air conditioner can release heat outside instead of it getting trapped in the unit.
Pay Attention to Changes
It’s also a good idea to monitor how your air conditioner is working. Pay close attention to cooling cycles and sounds that your unit is making. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, give our team a call for professional service. It’s better to be safe and have your unit checked out when you suspect that something is wrong than to ignore a potentially serious problem.
What Should You Leave to the Professionals?
Pretty much anything else should be left up to our team of HVAC professionals. Trying to make any other adjustments to your air conditioner could be dangerous because of the electrical components and coils containing chemical refrigerant.
Refrigerant Leaks
If you suspect that you have a refrigerant leak, don’t attempt to clean it up on your own. Instead, give our team a call to schedule service right away. Refrigerant is perfectly safe as long as it is in the airtight lines, but when it begins to leak out it can be dangerous if you touch it or breathe it in.
Frozen Coils
The most you can do for frozen coils is turn off your air conditioner, allow the ice to melt, and clean up the water left behind. However, our team needs to get down to the root cause of frozen coils. The ice that develops on coils is actually the symptom of a deeper problem, which may be a lack of airflow or a refrigerant leak. Our team needs to troubleshoot and fix the core problem so your coils do not ice over again.
Addressing Loud Noises
If you hear loud noises, you may be tempted to do a quick search online and come up with a DIY solution. For example, a loud humming sound coming from your outdoor unit may mean that the capacitor needs to be replaced. While it is possible for you to purchase a capacitor online and switch it out yourself, we encourage you to leave this up to our team.
This is because there may be deeper issues contributing to a capacitor failing. Our team needs to assess the problem so that we can fix it entirely instead of leaving you with a partial repair job. Attempting a DIY repair might leave you calling us for service anyway, and facing a more expensive repair bill, too.
At Gideon Heating & Air Conditioning, we like to say that our work isn’t just good—it’s Gideon Guaranteed! Contact us today to schedule HVAC services.