How to Repair the Most Common Air Conditioner Problems Yourself

Our professionals explain the way to fix the most normal reasons behind central surroundings conditioning service problems.
air conditioning assistance repair featured image
FAMILY HANDYMAN
Up coming Project
Introduction
Our experts shows you easy DIY options for the most common core air conditioner repairs. You will be installed and operating sooner and will preserve the expense associated with a service phone.
Tools Essential
Flexible wrench
Drill/driver - cordless
Insulated electric screwdriver
Multimeter
Needle-nose giant pliers
Nut drivers
Socket/ratchet set
Voltage tester
Materials Necessary
Capacitor
Compressed air
Condenser fan engine
Contactor
Fuses
DIY Air flow Conditioning Service Repair
If you core ac system halts working during some sort of brutal summer temperature wave, you may be waiting days, otherwise days, for an appointment with a restoration technician to correct it, and it? h probably going in order to cost a several hundred dollars. On the other hand, if you? re also comfortable working about electricity and prepared to spend less than $100 on sections, you can most likely repair your air conditioner yourself inside about two hrs.

We talked to be able to local HVAC repair technicians to get their very own best do-it-yourself AC fan repair in addition to maintenance tips. These types of tips will assist you most abundant in typical? low cooling? and even? no cooling? issues.

You? ll will need a few basic tools: multimeter, a voltage detector, an assortment of insulated screwdrivers plus a socket set.

In the event that these AC repairs don? t operate, at least an individual? ve covered typically the most common disappointments, and your assistance guy can concentrate on finding the more elusive problem. Additionally, with the brand new parts, you? lmost all likely add many years of breakdown-free air health and fitness. Here? s how to start.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Not Cooling typically the House?
Guarantee the Issue Isn? t the Furnace
Set your own thermostat to AIR CONDITIONING UNIT mode and lower the temperature environment. If the heater fan kicks in, the problem isn?  sửa chữa điều hòa t in typically the furnace. When the enthusiast doesn? t work, try resetting typically the furnace circuit breaker. If the enthusiast still won? capital t start, call a professional? the fixes shown here won? t work.

Next, look into the outside condensing device. The compressor (which sounds like a new refrigerator) and enthusiast should be running. When not, the actual troubleshooting and repair processes shown here.

Extreme care: Turn Off the ability
Turn off the particular A/C and air conditioner breakers in the particular main electrical screen before pulling the particular outdoor disconnect or even removing the distilling unit? s gain access to panel. Then use a voltage tester within the wires coming into the contactor to make sure the energy is really off.

AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Doesn? t Function? Buy Parts
Typically the AC contactor (relay) and start/run capacitor(s) (see illustration below) fail most frequently and therefore are inexpensive. Thus it? s a new safe bet to acquire and install these parts right away from, especially when your air conditioning service product is over the age of several years. The fondre fan motor can also fail, but it really runs about $150? hold off buying that unless an individual? re sure? s i9000 the culprit.

To acquire replacement parts, discover the nameplate in the condensing device (not your furnace). Jot down the particular make, model in addition to serial number (or have a photo). Get the parts with an appliance retail store, furnace dealer or online.

ADVERTISEMENT

Study Next
What Is definitely Cleaning Vinegar in addition to How to Use ItPlay icon
What Is Cleaning Vinegar and the way to Use It
Commonplace Dryer Repairs A person Can Do YourselfPlay icon
Common Drier Repairs You Could Do Oneself
nine Ways to Dried out Clothes Without a Drier
9 Ways to Dry Clothes Without a Dryer
Sign Up For Our E-zine
Complete DIY jobs like a pro! Sign up for our newsletter!
Email Address
SIGN RIGHT UP
Project step-by-step (8)
Step 1
Understand Anatomy of the Central Home Atmosphere Conditioner
Central residence air conditioner services systems consist associated with two major components: a condenser of which sits outside your own house along with the evaporator coil (often known to as a good A-coil) that is located within the plenum associated with your furnace or even air handler. The refrigerant within the A-coil picks up heat from your house and moves this to the outside condensing unit. The particular condensing unit enthusiast blows outside surroundings through the condensing coil to remove the heat. Typically the condensing unit homes the three parts replaceable by the DIYer: the AIR CONDITIONING contactor, the start/run capacitor(s) and the fondre fan motor. Typically the condensing unit furthermore houses the compressor, but merely a pro can replace that will. The A-coil has got no parts which can be serviced by the DIYer.

diagram of a central residence air conditioner
LOVED ONES HANDYMAN

Step a couple of
Shut Off the Electric power
Open the electric box alongside the particular condensing unit and pull the detachment block straight out.
Check within the box with a volts sniffer to help to make sure the power is genuinely off.
air-con assistance shut off the energy
FAMILY HANDYMAN

ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN

ADVERTISEMENT

Step several
Clean your Condenser Coils
It? s actually easy to clean up a great air conditioner fondre, and it? h one of the regular upkeep tasks that is going to extend lifespan associated with your unit.

Purpose your garden nozzle upward into the top of the condenser coil to be able to remove the crud buildup under the cover.
Work completely close to the coil. And then aim the nozzle down and eliminate the debris throughout the coil fins.
Modify the nozzle to some gentler stream and shoot water directly into the coils to flush out any kind of remaining debris.
clean condenser coils on the subject of ac
FAMILY HANDYMAN

Step four
Test the particular Fuses
Many disconnect blocks contain 2 cartridge fuses. Check them before you proceed with vehicle repairs. A blown fuse is a sign of a faltering part inside the condensing unit. Therefore don? t simply replace it and think you? empieza solved the trouble. Instead, replace the parts, install fresh fuses, and open fire up the product. Whether it blows once more, call an expert? you? ve received more serious issues.

How to Check Fuses In typically the Disconnect Stop
Fixed your multimeter to the lowest Ohms scale and feel the red plus black leads to be able to opposite ends regarding each fuse.
If you get a new numerical reading, typically the fuse is good.
A zero, some sort of minus symbol, or even an infinity sign (? ) indicates a blown join.
air conditioner fuse block pull out and about
FAMILY HANDYMAN

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISEMENT

Step your five
Inspect the Inside involving the Access Panel
Follow the electric conduit from the house? that? s where you? lmost all find the gain access to panel. With the power off, get rid of and store the access-panel retaining screws in addition to remove the screen. Before you change any parts, check for rodents? nests or evidence of chewing on wires and even electrical connectors.

When you find busted wires or destroyed insulation and may safely handle electric repairs, discharge the capacitor first. And then repair the wire connections and get rid of typically the nest. Otherwise, call a pro.

How to Discharge a Dual Start/Run Capacitor
Take away the capacitor from typically the retaining bracket.
Next touch an insulated screwdriver between typically the HERM (or? They would? ) terminal and the COMMON (or? C? ) fatal.
Do the identical between the FAN (or? F? ) airport terminal along with the? C? airport terminal.
On single-mode capacitors, simply make a brief between the 2 terminals.
inspect gain access to panel in air conditioning unit
FAMILY HANDYMAN

Step six
Replace the Start/Run Capacitor(s)
All surroundings conditioning service devices have at least one capacitor. The capacitor retailers electricity and releases it during air compressor and condenser lover startup to give equally motors an extra fix of power. Plus it smooths out and about voltage fluctuations to protect the compressor and even condenser fan motor unit from damage.

Capacitors can degrade gradually, providing less startup power over period. Or they may fail right away. Progressive capacitor failure can easily go unnoticed for a long period, stressing the compressor and condenser fan motor windings, causing their early disappointment. Since capacitors are usually cheap, it makes sense to proactively exchange yours about every single five years.

Just how to Replace a Capacitator
Have a photograph of the wires before disconnecting something (you may require a reference after on).
Discharge typically the stored energy in the old capacitor.
Use needle-nose huge pliers to pluck one particular wire at the same time from the old capacitor and snap that onto the related tab of the particular new capacitor. The female crimp connectors should snap snugly onto the capacitor tabs.
Wiggle each connector to notice if it? h tight. If it? h not, eliminate the connection and bend the particular rounded edges of it so this constitutes a tighter fit for the tab.
If you? ve changed all the wire connections, secure the fresh capacitor.
WARNING: Discharge the capacitor just before disconnecting wires or even removing it coming from its bracket.

Mount the new air conditioning unit capacitor
FAMILY RENOVATOR

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Step 7
Replace the AC Contactor
An ALTERNATING CURRENT contactor is a $25 mechanical exchange that uses low voltage power from your temperature control system to switch 220-volt high-amperage current to the compressor and fondre fan. AC contactors can wear away and therefore are at the top of the particular list of popular air conditioning support failures. Even in the event that your AC contactor is working, it pays to substitute it every five years roughly. Unscrew the old AIR CONDITIONING UNIT contactor before removing the wires. Then simply move the wires to the new unit.

Yank the connector off the particular old contactor plus move it to be able to the same place on the brand new part.
Tighten the connectors where necessary.
Secure the fresh contactor in the distilling unit.
replace the air conditioning unit contactor
FAMILY HANDYMAN

Step eight
Just how to Test Your Fixes
Reinstall the particular access panel in addition to disconnect block.
Switch on the circuit breaker and furnace switch, then arranged the thermostat to a lower temperatures and wait with regard to the AC to start.
The automotive compressor should run as well as the condenser fan need to spin.
If the particular compressor starts yet the fan doesn? t, the fan motor is probably picture.
Shut off the ability and remove the particular screws around the condenser cover.
Lift the cover in addition to remove the fan blade and motor unit.
Reinstall the cutter and secure the particular cover.
Then repower the unit plus see if the particular fan starts.
In case it doesn? big t, you? ve given it your perfect shot? it? h time to call a pro.
Replace the enthusiast motor in air conditioner
FAMILY RENOVATOR

Be Patient from New venture
AC units and thermostats have got built-in delay features when they? lso are shut down and then repowered. The particular delay can be as long as 10 minutes. And even, if you? ve subscribed to a good energy-saving device from your local power utility, the system may take even longer to reset. In case you? ve installed typically the parts shown and even reinstalled the detachment block, repowered the particular circuit breaker, turned on the switch on the furnace, moved typically the thermostat to AIR CONDITIONING mode and lowered the temperature below the indoor temperature, along with the unit doesn? capital t fire up right after half an hour, it? s time to call some sort of pro.