DIY or Professional Central Air Conditioner Repair? If you’ve owned a home for several years, chances are you’ve had the dreaded AC breakdown, and chances are even better that it was during the sweltering heat of summer. Handling air conditioner repairs is a job for a professional – we don’t advise that even seasoned do-it-yourselfers do more than basic cleaning and maintenance on central air conditioners. Your central air conditioner has two units, the condenser and the evaporator. Your condenser is sitting outside, on top of a concrete slab. Inside your home, usually in the attic is your evaporator. Let’s look at some of the common issues that will cause your central air conditioner to malfunction, the repairs necessary to fix them, and what you can do to help. Condenser isn’t running: First, check to be sure there’s no problem with your power source. Check for blown fuses or tripped circuits. Then, make sure your thermostat is set to a level that would cause your air conditioner to kick on – lower the thermostat five degrees to ensure that the problem isn’t just a faulty thermostat.

If neither of those fixes works, please give the friendly professionals at Howard Air a call – the problem could be a faulty motor or compressor. Insufficient cooling: Check your thermostat – this is always a good first step. Then, check your air handler outside to make sure the fan blades are spinning and the vents are not clogged with debris or dirt. It could also simply be that your unit is too small or not functioning optimally – we can recommend an upgrade to a unit suitable for your space. No cooling: There are a few things to check here. Lower the thermostat, then check to ensure that the condenser isn’t dirty. If the condenser needs cleaning, make sure to shut off power to the unit before proceeding. Then, clean the coils and fins. Make sure to keep grass, leaves, and debris as far from the condenser as possible – as the fan pulls air through the metal grating, it will pull that debris as well. If that doesn’t help, it’s time to give us a call. We’ll check your refrigerant and replace parts as needed.

Evaporator needs cleaning: Remove the taped insulation and pull off the access plate. Then use a stiff brush to clean the underside of the evaporator. air conditioner split system for saleBeneath the evaporator is a tray that helps to pull condensation away. should outside ac unit be levelMake sure the weep hole isn’t clogged, and use a small amount of bleach to prevent future fungus growth in the tray.slim profile window ac units Following a basic maintenance plan including the cleaning elements described above can go a long ways towards preventing air conditioning breakdown, but eventually even the most carefully-maintained air conditioners require service. Your AC unit works hard for many months to keep you and your family cool and comfortable in the summer months.

Like all appliances, it contains moving parts that will eventually wear out and components with a limited lifespan. When it’s time to maintain or repair your central air conditioner, we want to help. Howard Air has more than 30 years of experience as the best heating and air conditioning business in Arizona. Let us do a performance audit on your current system, provide comprehensive maintenance, or repair elements that have worn out over time. We look forward to working with you!Always disconnect power before attempting removal of components. Be aware of sharp edges inside cabinet.  Mark wires and/or take pictures to aid in reassembly. Call U-FIX-IT Appliance Parts for assistance with questions you may have during the diagnosis and repair process.Air conditioner blows warm air inside the houseCondenser fan motor – The condenser fan motor turns the fan in the outdoor unit. This motor should be running anytime the compressor (located below the fan motor) is running (usually a hum).

Call the U-FIX-IT store for help with diagnosis.Capacitor – Shut off power to outdoor unit, remove and bring in for free testing or call the U-FIX-IT store for free assistance with diagnosis.Contactor – The contactor is located in the outdoor unit. This device turns the outdoor unit on and off as commanded by the thermostat. Shut off power to outdoor unit, remove and bring in for free testing or call the U-FIX-IT store for free assistance with diagnosis. Outdoor fan motor only runs when I spin the fan blade with a stick Outdoor unit - Both the motor and the compressor are not running when indoor unit runsContactor – The contactor is located in the outdoor unit. Shut off power to outdoor unit, remove and bring in for free testing or call the U-FIX-IT store for free assistance with diagnosis.Dual Capacitor – Shut off power to outdoor unit, remove and bring in for free testing or call the U-FIX-IT store for free assistance with diagnosis. Air conditioner – indoor unit is not blowing air but outdoor unit is running Outdoor unit and indoor unit are not running Wall Thermostat - It is probably not the wall thermostat.

Cooling System Repair Plan Air conditioning is critical to keep your home comfortable and free of humidity. There are several electrical components in your A/C system that can break down from the stress of heat, including the circuit board, condensor motor/fan and more. As a homeowner, you are responsible for the repair and maintenance of all the complicated parts that keep your central air conditioning functioning properly. With a repair plan from HomeServe USA, you can help protect yourself from the cost and hassle of emergency repairs. Enter your ZIP Code to find available plans in your area. 24-hour repair service hotline Local, licensed, and insured technicians One-year guarantee on all covered repairs Why Buy This Plan How a cooling system failure can affect your home: Freon or coolant leak can prevent cool air from flowing into your home Circuit board failure can cause the breaker to keep tripping A bad condenser can cause the fan to blow but not cool

It can be a major inconvenience when your central A/C system fails and finding a qualified professional to address the problem quickly can be time consuming and costly. Don't sweat high repair costs with an affordable repair plan from HomeServe USA and get access to our 24/7 hotline where you can schedule a repair for your cooling system. Internal fuses or breakers Fan controls and relays High and low pressure switches Refrigerant (excluding maintenance recharges)Enter your ZIP Code to see the Terms and Conditions. ‡National average repair costs as of January 2016. No charge for covered repairs up to the annual benefit amount. Mr. & Mrs. Simon share their cooling system repair experience Learn more about Heating & Cooling system repair plans from HomeServe reviews verified by Call Center ExperienceContractor/ Technician ProfessionalismSatisfaction With the RepairOverall Rating They took so long to answer my call in 90 degree weather..

It took two days to come and fix my ac unit... I wasn't very satisfied with the phone service I received .. Even after speaking with a manager I felt extremely frustrated. When I had my annual maintenance service in May, they were unable to check the freon. I asked if I should have someone come back in a couple of weeks and they said there was no need because I had emergency service. I was extremely upset to find out when my AC stopped working because it needed a little freon that emergency service can take up to 48 hours. Ultimately the technician came within 23 hours and fixed the problem. Promptness, reliability, ability to resolve issue disappointed that the tech insisted I needed a plumber to resolve my issue when in fact I did not and he was able to resolve the issue by clearing the line with a blast of air from a C02 cartridge, if I had not had this issue in the past, was unfamiliar with what most likely would resolve the problem and took his advice I would have incurred unnecessary aggravation and unnecessary costly expenses.

In addition when I called back the call center to make another appointment because I didn't realize that water that built up under the unit was still running out after the repair and clean up, the call center refused to schedule another appointment because the tech wrote on the report that I needed a plumber. Being it took place on a weekend I was told I needed to wait until Monday for a supervisor to get back to me and if he deemed necessary was the only one who could override the techs report. Ultimately the water dried up and the issue was resolved on the 1st and only visit, despite the tech should never have written on the report or recommended I need a plumber when I didn't and had it turned out that another service call was required I was stuck at the mercy of a tech and his report. Does my homeowners insurance or local utility cover repairs to the systems around my home? Many homeowners believe their utility companies or homeowners insurance is responsible for emergency repairs to the water, sewer, plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling systems, but the reality is that in many cases you, the homeowner, is responsible.

Most basic homeowners insurance policies and local utility companies or municipalities do not cover repairs to or replacement of the major systems in and around your home. I need a repair. Step 1: If you should suffer a home repair emergency after your start date that is covered by your plan, call HomeServe toll-free at 1-855-336-2465 and one of our customer service specialists will get you started on your service call.Step 2: A local, licensed and insured technician will be dispatched to your home to make the covered repair or replacement.Step 3: Once covered repairs are completed, you just sign a form to say you are satisfied and we pay the technician directly up to the annual benefit amount. Who will come to my home to make the repair? Homeowners who call with a covered emergency can rest assured that a local, licensed and insured technician will respond to the call and carry out the repair in a professional manner. How do I cancel my plan? You may cancel within 30 days of your start date for a full refund less any claims paid, where applicable, by calling HomeServe at 1-855-336-2465.