Troubleshooting 8 Common Air Conditioner Problems Poor maintenance can result in an air conditioner that performs poorly Of course it’s on the hottest days that you notice your air conditioner is struggling. And it’s not always the fault of the equipment. A poorly maintained system can perform poorly, failing to keep you cool while costing you more to run. Here are some reasons why your air conditioner isn’t working as well as it used to. Your filter is dirty. If you haven’t cleaned the filter in your room air conditioner recently, do it now. Filters on central AC units should be changed at least once a month, especially if your system is running constantly or you have pets.If so, reseal around your unit with pieces of weatherstripping. TV is too close to the AC. Avoid placing lamps or TV sets near the thermostat that controls your central air or near your window unit. Registers are dirty or blocked. If you have a forced air heating and cooling system, regularly vacuum the registers to remove any dust buildup.

Make sure that furniture and other objects are not blocking the airflow through your registers. Thermostat is on the wrong setting. If you have a programmable thermostat, make sure you programmed it so your home is at a comfortable temperature when you’re there and a bit higher when you’re not. And keep in mind that for every degree you raise the temperature, you’ll save 3 percent on your air conditioning costs. Window units, of course, don’t offer the whole-house control of a central system. If you’re depending on one window unit to cool a large space you’ll have to experiment with the thermostat setting as the temperature will vary depending on where you are in the room. It’s too sunny inside. If your room AC unit is in a sunny window, it’ll have to work harder to cool your space. Likewise, if the thermostat for your central system is in a sunny spot, it will register the wrong temperature. Your best bet is to keep your shades and curtains drawn all day during the heat of the summer.

Plants are crowding the compressor. The outdoor compressor for central air needs adequate airflow to work correctly, so make sure there’s at least 2 to 3 feet of space between the unit and any plants or structures. carrier ac units sizesThere should also be 5 feet of clearance between the top of the unit and any trees above.harga ac split unit You forgot an annual checkup. ac unit preventive maintenanceAn inspection by an HVAC technician can catch any serious problems before they get worse and leave you hot and bothered at the peak of summer. The technician will check all the moving parts as well as the refrigerant and recharge the system if necessary. Need a New AC? If your room air conditioner has given up the ghost, you can find one that did well in our tests for as little as $125 for a small unit and as much as $360 for a large one.

Small (5,000 to 6,500 Btu/hr.) GE AEM05LV, $170 (CR Best Buy), LG LW6016R, $175, Frigidaire FFRA0511R1, $125. Medium (7,000 to 8,500 Btu/hr.) LG LW8015ER, $270, GE AEW08LV, $250, GE AEZ08LV, $210. Large (9,800 to 12,500 Btu/hr.) LG LW1216ER, $350 (CR Best Buy), LG LW1215ER, $360, Haier HWE12XCR, $310. The stores are still stocked with room units but getting a central air system at this time of year may be trickier as the installers tend to be busy. But you can check out the most reliable central air systems according to our subscribers. Current Air conditioner ratingsThere are times when I am extremely thankful for air conditioning -- usually after I have had a long workout on a hot summer's day and am still sweating after a cold shower. The cold, dry air is invigorating and refreshing. But usually, after about 30 minutes, I find myself shivering and needing to go back outside. Indeed, I have found that the majority of homes I have visited and more so, public offices and stores, the air conditioning temperature is set so low that I find myself feeling sick so that I have to step outside.

I also find that I am more tired and my muscles more sore from shivering all day. So I decided to look into why this is and what we should all know about air conditioning. To begin, I do contest to the positive side of air conditioners, as they are beneficial to those individuals who suffer from asthma and allergies, as pollen and dust are filtered through the system. The air conditioners also dry out the humidity and usually clean out the air, enabling us to breathe cleaner air and not be over-run by heat stroke. The problem is, however, that these systems need to be extremely well-maintained, checked and cleaned, or all these benefits are trumped by breathing problems and infections. More so, keeping the room temperature so cold has other negative consequences. These are the top five negative health consequences that you want to be aware of:When air conditioners are not cleaned thoroughly and filters changed, a breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria and fungi is created.

These systems especially can be home to black mold, as moisture can build up in the coils and ducts from condensation that forms when the cool air passes through. When these microorganisms go air-borne, they can lead to a multitude of breathing problems, including a potentially fatal infectious pneumonia, Legionnaire's disease, caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila. Remedy: Make sure your air conditioning systems are cleaned regularly and the filter changed every few months. 2. Fatigue, headaches and generally feeling ill. Many individuals find that after a day of work, they often feel more tired than usual, headachy and a general sense of malaise. They also find that once they leave the building, the symptoms often resolve. Sometimes termed "sick building syndrome," it may be that air conditioning may be the cause. In a study published in the Aug. 19, 2004 International Journal of Epidemiology, people working in office buildings with central air conditioning had more symptoms of illness than those who did not work in buildings with central air.

Remedy: Raise the temperature slightly so that you are not shivering and take regular breaks to step outside for fresh air and for your body temperature to equilibrate.The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is warning us that we may be more exposed to pollutants inside than outside, especially because central air conditioning does not bring in fresh air but circulates old air. This means that if there is mold, dust, animal dander or other people in the building have viruses or air-borne infections, individuals are more prone to be exposed and get sick. Remedy: Some systems are built to a low in a "leak" from the outside. You can create your own leak by cracking open a window even slightly.The more time you spend in an air-conditioned environment, the dryer your skin may become, as the cold, dry air can cause your skin to lose its moisture. Your hair may suffer such ill effects as well. Remedy: Get a great moisturizer! 5. Visiting the doctor more often. Studies have shown that that individuals who spend more time in air-conditioned environments have an increased use of health care services.