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In the summer, you use air conditioning so you can work comfortably and sleep well at night. Hot humid weather would be pretty unbearable without it. Like everything else in a home, air conditioners have to be maintained to operate at peak performance, cooling and dehumidifying the dwelling and filtering dust from the air.
Central air conditioner performance
Split-system central air conditioners, used with forced air furnaces, take hot air from the house and blow it through an evaporator coil located in the top of the furnace to cool the air. The cooled air circulates throughout the house via the heat ducts then returns to the furnace as warm air to be cooled again.
Central air conditioners can work for years without problems if properly maintained and serviced annually. If they aren't working properly, call a trained technician. But before you phone, see if the problem is caused by something else.
What to do when the unit stops working
If you have your system inspected and cleaned annually, it should run without any trouble. However, if it stops working completely and you aren't sure why, here's something you can do to troubleshoot before calling a pro:
1. Check the circuit breaker or fuse box to find out if the unit has power.
2. Check the fuses in the disconnect box located outside, near the condenser to make sure there's power.
3. Replace or clean the furnace filter.
4. If the condenser coils are coated with dust or debris, use a garden hose to wash them off.
5. If the air conditioner still won't work, call a technician, who may have to recharge the refrigerant.
What to do when the unit won't quit running
If the air conditioner runs constantly, here's what to do:
1. Turn up the thermostat.
 | If you set the thermostat a few degrees higher, you will save energy and a lot of money when it comes time to pay your electric bill. And your significant other won't have to complain about wearing a sweater indoors. |
2. Take the cover off the condenser and find out whether anything is blocking the airflow.
3. Vacuum the interior of the condenser and then flush it with a garden hose.
4. If the fan blades are bent or dirty, straighten them out and/or clean them.
5. While the cover is off, oil the motor on older air conditioners.
Newer units are sealed and cannot be oiled.) Take off the plastic covers — there should be two — and put a couple drops of lightweight oil, such as 3-in-1, into each.
6. Replace the cover.
7. Check the furnace filter and blower to see whether they're blocked.
Use a vacuum cleaner to clean dust and dirt on or around the blower.
8. Replace the filter if necessary.
What to do when the unit freezes up
If the high-pressure lines from the condenser to the furnace or the evaporator coil in the top of the furnace are iced up, then shut the system down:
1. Either turn off the breaker in the panel or pull the disconnect switch outside at the condenser.
2. Call for service; your system is probably low on Freon and needs to be recharged.
What to do when water pools under the evaporator
When there's water under the evaporator at the base of your furnace, the drain is probably clogged. You can clear it, but it's probably easier just to replace the whole thing. If you want to try clearing it, however, here's what to do.
1. Take off the trap, and if it's PVC (plastic) you can cut the pipe to remove it.
2. To remove debris and algae, pour a vinegar-water or bleach-water solution (1 to 10 parts) into the drain.
3. If you have flexible tubes, take them off and clean them by pouring the solution through them.
You can also run a wire through the tube to scrape the walls. Do it gently so you don't poke a hole.
4. Reassemble the tubes and trap.
Window air conditioner performance
Window air conditioners contain the evaporator, condenser, and blower in one unit (as shown in Figure 1) and are designed to cool one or more rooms. To get peak performance, you should clean the filter every couple of weeks. Some have to be vacuumed; others are washable.
Figure 1: Looking at a window air conditioner and the condensate drain.
If the air conditioner stops working, make sure the power is on at the control box and that the cord and plug are plugged in and undamaged. Vacuum the filter at the front, just behind the control panel and cover. The condenser coils are located on the back, where the air conditioner hangs out of the window. Brush and clean them.
| If you clean the air conditioner thoroughly in the spring, before it's set into the window, you shouldn't have a problem during hot weather. You won't have the hassle of pulling the unit out if you do the work beforehand. |
| If your air conditioner stops working, always give it at least five minutes before you turn it back on. That gives the unit time to cool off. |
When a window unit stops and starts for no apparent reason, you may have a problem with the thermostat. Check to see if the sensor is out of position. You can readjust it by bending it so that it's near, but not on, the evaporator coil. It's usually held in place by a clip. Also clean out the drain, hanging outside the unit. Clear it with a vinegar solution.
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