It's still hot outside and chances are your air conditioner is still running at full force. If you're having problems and need to replace an old central AC system, now might be the time to do it. Consumer Reports found in a survey of more than 40,000 subscribers, some systems have been much better at keeping their cool than others, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars. Contractor Tim Mosher says it's important to take good care of a central air conditioning system. "The preventative maintenance in the beginning of the season is better than having to have a serviceman come out during a heat wave," said Mosher. Consumer Reports says carefully choosing an air conditioning system can help you avoid service calls, too. Its latest product-reliability survey shows some central air systems have been significantly more repair-prone: Amana, Goodman, and York. "In the past six years, close to one in five of these systems needed repairs. That's a lot," said Dan DiClerico with Consumer Reports.

Consumer Reports' survey also shows how inconvenient repairs can be. Ten percent of those polled said they needed repeated repairs in the first year. Eighteen percent reported their system broke down completely. And 39 percent lost AC for at least a day. "About 30 percent who had problems had to pay $150 or more for the repair," said DiClerico. To prevent having to call a repairman, Consumer Reports says invest in a more reliable brand, including ones from American Standard, Rheem, or Trane. Plants and hedges should be at least two feet away from the air conditioning unit. Also, clean filters and grills monthly. And be sure to seal and insulate every duct. "Up to 30 to 40 percent of energy can escape through leaks when ducts aren't insulated," DiClerico said. Another energy saver is to use a programmable thermostat and set the temperature higher when you're out of the house. Consumer Reports' survey turned up more interesting information -- homeowners who hired the installer themselves versus those who let a home builder do the hiring had significantly fewer repairs.

Once your system is installed, Consumer Reports says it's important to get it inspected by a professional at the beginning of every season to avoid repair problems. For Amana, Goodman and York International-branded units call (800) 366-0339 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.  For Comfort-Aire and Century-branded units call toll-free at (877) 442-4482 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. and click on Recall Info at the bottom right corner of the page for more information. Report an Incident Involving this Product The power cords on the units can overheat, posing burn and fire hazards. The recall involves Amana, Century, Comfort-Aire, Goodman and York International-branded Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps. The units are rated 230/208 volt, 3.5 kW and are most often installed in walls of hotels, motels, apartment buildings and commercial spaces to provide room climate control. The recalled units are beige with serial numbers ranging from 0701009633 through 0804272329.

The brand name is located on the unit's front cover.  The serial number is located on the control board plate found by lifting the unit's front cover. Goodman has received five reports of power cords smoking or catching on fire. No injuries have been reported.small ac units window to request a free replacement power cord. carrier ac parts in houstonNon-commercial owners will receive free installation of the power cord and inspection of the PTAC control board for damages. outdoor ac unit costIf the control board has been damaged by the recalled power cord, non-commercial owners will also receive a free installation of a replacement control board. Commercial owners are being contacted directly and will install the power cord and inspect the control board.

If the control board has been damaged by the recalled power cord, Goodman will provide a new control board for commercial owners to install. Goodman and heating and cooling equipment dealers nationwide from January 2007 through June 2008 for between $700 and $1,000. Goodman Company, L.P. of Houston, Texas The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical orCPSC's work to help ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals -– contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 or teletypewriter at 301-595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.What to Do When Your Home’s A/C Is Not Blowing Cold Air View Local Air Conditioning and Heating Companies When coming home after a long day out on a stuffy summer’s afternoon, the last thing you want to be greeted with upon walking through the front door is a blast of warm air. If you discover that your air conditioner has stopped blowing cold air, you’ll probably wonder what to do for the fastest fix. Before investigating your AC's troubles, you should have a basic understanding of how it functions.

For an in-depth look at residential HVAC systems, check out how heating and cooling systems work. All residential air conditioning systems, whether operating as a split system or a heat pump, utilize the same basic method to cool your home. Essentially, your air conditioner pulls in warm air from inside the home, extracts heat from it, and circulates the now-cool air through your duct system and into the different rooms of your home. This is accomplished by the two major components of an air conditioning system: the condenser (the unit that sits outside your home) and the evaporator. When your air conditioner is blowing warm air, there’s a good chance that your condenser is simply dirty. How to Clean Your Condenser in 7 Steps: Shut down all power to the unit. Attached to the condenser should be a metal box that houses the disconnect switch. This is where you’ll turn off the 240 volts that power the condenser. The way to do this will vary depending on the particular system, so consult your system’s manual or call the installer before beginning.

Generally, the power can be shut down by pulling a shutdown handle, removing a fuse, or disconnecting a power cord. Also make sure to turn off the circuit at your main electrical panel. After waiting a few minutes to ensure that all the remaining charge is gone, unscrew and remove the top panel or grille as well as any protective side grilles. Be careful with this step, as sometimes the unit’s fan is attached to the top panel or grille. If this is the case, make sure you don’t disturb any wires connected to the fan. When you remove the protective grilles, you’ll notice that the condenser coils are surrounded by flat panels, or fins, usually made out of aluminum. With a soft brush, clean the fins and coils of any debris or dust, taking care not to bend the fins, and remove any loose debris from the bottom of the unit. Then, if possible, use a bristle attachment to vacuum away any remaining dirt or dust. Next, cover the wiring and the motor with a plastic bag (a garbage bag would work nicely) and duct tape, and use a hose with a trigger nozzle to clean out the coils and fins.

Do not use a high-pressure stream, as the aluminum fins can be easily bent by water pressure. After the water has drained from inside the bottom of the unit, remove the plastic covering. If any of the fins are bent, you’ll want to have them straightened for optimal performance. This requires a special tool called a fin comb and is best left to a professional HVAC contractor. Make a note to call one to repair your unit before the heavy-use season begins. Tips for choosing a contractor. Screw the protective grilles back onto the unit. After you’ve finished cleaning the condenser, use a level to make sure that the unit is balanced properly. If the unit isn’t level, drainage problems may occur. Finally, turn the thermostat off before reconnecting the power to the unit. After the thermostat is turned off, reengage the power to the unit at the main service panel and the disconnect box, and then set the thermostat to cool. After a few minutes, locate the two pipes connecting the outdoor unit to the indoor air handler.