While a problem with your air conditioning system may not constitute an emergency per se, Tallahassee’s summer temperatures can sometimes produce heat waves that can, in fact, be life threatening. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal government agencies, extreme heat causes the most weather-related fatalities and illnesses every year.
Thus, the loss of air conditioning in the home could constitute a potential emergency during heat waves. Especially for the elderly and others with risk factors that may make them prone to heat related illness. Even if the loss of AC cooling isn’t a potentially life-threatening situation, it’s a personal emergency that can lead to significant discomfort for you and others in your home. The air conditioning experts at Tallahassee’s Air Control Heating and Cooling know a thing or two about AC emergencies. They offer you the following tips on what you should do to quickly resolve problems with your AC system.
The First Steps to Take During Your AC Emergency
If your air conditioning system is not working at all, check the AC breaker on your home’s electrical panel. Do this to make sure there is no trip due to an overload or other problem. If it has, switch it back on and check whether your AC system has powered up. If not, or if the breaker subsequently trips again, you may need to have your system serviced by a professional; such as those at Air Control Heating and Cooling.
If your AC system isn’t producing the cool air flows it normally generates, double-check the thermostat. It should be set to the desired temperature with the “cool” or “auto” setting and the fan set to “on” or “auto.” If the thermostat isn’t displaying settings, or it won’t allow them to change, its battery may be dead or dying and a simple battery replacement will resolve the problem.
In some cases, the temperature you may have set in the morning when the temperature was cooler, may not be working well enough to keep you comfortable during the heat of the day. Try lowering the temperature a few degrees to see if it subsequently brings the temperature to a more comfortable range.
If none of these actions resolves the problem, try setting your AC to its coldest temperature. This trick can sometimes provide a boost to sluggish air conditioning systems. Note, though, that AC systems that are struggling to keep your home cool likely have an underlying issue. An issue that should be investigated by an air conditioning specialist.
Inspect Your AC System’s Filters, Check for Leaks
Your next steps for resolving your AC emergency is to inspect the filters and check for coolant leaks. While your air conditioner cools your home with a heat transference process, it circulates the air through a filter which clogs with dust and debris. Clogged filters impede air flow and compromise the heat transference process. This results in a noticeable decline in your AC’s ability to cool your home’s air. Sometimes, a simple replacement of the air filter can help your AC deliver the cool air you expect.
AC refrigerant leaks do not usually present themselves with a pool of coolant around your air conditioning unit. You should inspect the unit just in case. During your examination, also check for ice buildup on exterior pipes, which can be a sign of coolant loss. If you believe that a refrigerant leak may be causing the problem, seek professional AC repair service. Replacing the coolant may provide a temporary fix, but will not resolve the underlying problem.
How to Stay Cool During Your AC Emergency
When you run in to an air conditioning emergency in the Tallahassee area, we trust you will turn to the expert AC repair service provided by Air Control Heating and Cooling. With more than 45 years of providing the highest quality service in HVAC equipment sales, installation, service, and maintenance, in Tallahassee, Havana, Quincy, Monticello, and Crawfordville, you can contact us at (850) 562-1234.