Edit ArticleHow to Service an Air Conditioner Three Methods:Clean the Air ConditionerCheck Air Conditioner FunctionFix Pooling Water IssuesCommunity Q&A Whether you’re starting your air conditioner for the first time this year, or a unit isn’t running properly and you need to service an air conditioner, following a few simple steps can save you time and money. While some service jobs should be left to a professional, there are several do-it-yourself fixes you can do to keep your air conditioner cooling all summer long. Make sure the unit is turned off either at the on/off switch or by shutting off the circuit breaker. Check the small copper pipe connecting the unit to the house. Rake any leaves and debris away from the unit before you start to service an air conditioner. Take the cover off the unit, and locate the air conditioner coils (they look like a car radiator). Use a soft brush to brush any dirt and debris off the outside cover. Cover the motor and wiring with a plastic sheet.

Hose down the fins, coils and inside of the unit. Check your owner’s manual. Replace the unit cover, and turn it on to make sure it runs properly.home ac unit not running The air conditioner filter should also be replaced every few months. first window ac unitIt is usually located near the return air duct by the furnace.what is the cost for a new ac unit Start at the unit control or thermostat. Turn the unit on and make sure it kicks in and runs properly. If the unit doesn’t run, call a technician. Listen for any strange noises while the unit runs. Check the room temperature in each of the home’s rooms by carrying a hand held thermometer into the room. Make sure the temperature of the rooms agrees with the thermostat on your air conditioner unit as well.

Look for water dripping or pooling anywhere by the air return or unit outside. Check for leaks in the tubing where the water is pooling. Find the drain where the water condensation should be draining into. Clean the drain of any debris if the water seems to be pooling on top of it. Pour water into the condensation drain pan and watch for the condensation pump to start working. The pump should activate and pump the water out and to the drain. If the pump doesn’t remove the water, the drain pan is probably overfilling and the pump will need to be replaced by a technician.In warmer months, it's tempting to crank the AC or plant yourself in front of the nearest fan. But these aren't the only tricks to keeping cool. It turns out there are plenty of ways to buffer your home from the heat without racking up your electric bill. And they’ll make you feel like a DIY champ, too. Keep your cool, and… 1. Keep your blinds closed. As simple as this tip may seem, Family Handyman notes that up to 30 percent of unwanted heat comes from your windows, and utilizing shades, curtains and the like can save you up to 7 percent on your bills and lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees.

In other words, closing the blinds essentially prevents your home from becoming a miniature greenhouse, which is especially the case for south- and west-facing windows. 2. Be smart about your doors. Closing off rooms will prevent the cool air from permeating these areas during the hottest part of the day. You'll want to capitalize on the cooler night hours, too, letting air flow naturally through your home. 3. Hack a fan instead of turning on the AC. Not even an air conditioner can give off a faux sea breeze... but this simple trick can. Fill a mixing bowl with ice (or something equally cold, like an ice pack) and position it at an angle in front of a large fan, so that the air whips off the ice at an extra-chilled, extra-misty temperature. Trust us: it's magic. 4. Swap your sheets. Not only does seasonally switching up your bedding freshen up a room, it's a great way to keep cool. While textiles like flannel sheets and fleece blankets are fantastic for insulation, cotton is a smarter move this time of year as it breathes easier and stays cooler.

And as an added bonus, buy yourself a buckwheat pillow or two. Because buckwheat hulls have a naturally occurring air space between them, they won't hold on to your body heat like conventional pillows, even when packed together inside a pillow case. 5. Set your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise. Whether you know it or not, your ceiling fan needs to be adjusted seasonally. Set counter-clockwise in the summer at a higher speed, the fan's airflow will create a wind-chill breeze effect that will make you and your guests "feel" cooler. 6. Focus on the temperature in your body, not the house. If your ancestors survived without air conditioning, so can you. From sipping tasty iced drinks to applying a cold cloth to strong-pulsed areas like your neck and wrists, cooling yourself from the inside out is not a bad idea. Other tricks include being smart about your clothing choices and telling your partner you won't be cuddling until the leaves start changing color. 7. Turn on your bathroom fans.

...or the exhaust fan in your kitchen, for that matter. Both of these pull the hot air that rises after you cook or take a steamy shower out of your apartment. 8. Heat-proof your bed. Go straight to the source, and put a cool-inducing Chillow under your head while you sleep. For feet, fill a hot water bottle and put it in the freezer before placing at the foot of your bed. And it sounds strange, but slightly dampening your sheets before bedtime will majorly help you chill out. 9. Let the night air in. During the summer months, temperatures may drop during the night. If this is the case where you live, make the most of these refreshing hours by cracking the windows before you go to bed. You can even create a wind tunnel by strategically setting up your fans to force the perfect cross breeze. Just be sure to close the windows (and the blinds) before things get too hot in the morning. 10. Ditch the incandescent lights. If you ever needed motivation to make the switch to CFLs, or compact fluorescent lamps, this is it.

Incandescent bulbs waste about 90 percent of their energy in the heat they emit, so tossing them to the curb will make a small difference in cooling your home while lowering your electric bill. It's obvious, but we're going to say it anyway: Using your oven or stove in the summer will make your house hotter. If it already feels like 100+ degrees in your home, the last thing you want to do is turn on a 400-degree oven. Besides, who doesn't want to get more mileage out of their outdoor furniture and seasonal accessories? 12. Make a few long-term improvements. If you're really, really committed to the whole no-AC thing, you can make a couple changes to your home that will keep it cooler for seasons to come. Insulated window films, for example, are a smart purchase as they work similarly to blinds. And additions like awnings and planted trees or vines on or in front of light-facing windows will shield your home from the sun's rays, reduce the amount of heat your home absorbs and make your investment nothing but worthwhile.