There's No Time Like Spring for an Air Conditioner Wake Up Call

Not so long ago, air conditioners were considered a luxury. Now it's a catastrophe should an AC unit cease to function, and a full blown emergency if the catastrophe occurs during the dog days of August. In order to avoid such a heated situation, the prudent homeowner takes time to get to know his air conditioner when it's well so he can troubleshoot if it's under the weather or call for AC repair in Cleveland if it's seriously ailing. He also has the wisdom to know the difference.

Wake Up

Once the temperatures rise and the heating system will no longer be needed it's an opportune time to put the air conditioner through a trial. The first test is to step back and observe its on/off cycle in this early relaxed state, before it's in constant demand. If the unit fails to come on, it may be as simple as a thrown circuit breaker. It may even be that the thermostat needs a new battery.

If it the unit cycles on too often, the thermostat may be in need of re-calibrating. If after calibration, it's still over eager, the culprit may be a coolant leak. Since an air conditioner is a closed loop system with freon being re-circulated through coils and the condenser system evaporating the moisture the coils collect, a leak is a problem beyond the realm of troubleshooting, and one which needs to be addressed by a licensed air conditioning technician.

Listen Up

Spring is time to get reacquainted with the normal sounds that the air conditioner emits. Most homeowners will instantly recognize the old sounds from the previous summer, but if any new ones have arisen, it's time to call for help. Squealing may indicate, just as it would in a car, that the belt is slipping. If it's a direct drive unit, something may be a amiss with the air handler.

Mop Up

Once it's started up, if the unit begins to leak water, the condenser coil unit may be plugged by debris, insects, or even animal waste that has found its way in over the winter. When this happens, the condenser can no longer breathe and exhale moisture out through the exhaust vents. Thus the moisture it has inhaled collects in the unit and when it reaches a critical mass, spills into the house.Scheduling a spring cleaning and tune-up will take care of this as well as any unwanted surprises that may heat up in peak season.

Warm Up

If warm air is coming out instead of cool, it's a no-brainer that something's wrong. The most common problem is a coolant leak, which as noted above, should not occur in a closed loop system. It could also be a case of a blocked condenser or other respiratory problem. No matter which, it's not going to get better and spring is the best time to discover the issue and get it repaired—not when temps are in the triple digits and AC repair companies are jammed up with calls.