As temperatures begin to rise, your air conditioning system becomes vital to your comfort inside your home but you don’t want to wait until you need it to turn it on for the first time! Take a look at the upcoming weather forecast and test out your air conditioner before it gets too hot outside. If there are any problems that need addressing, we’ll be able to find and repair them before the outdoor temperatures get uncomfortable.

However, if you do find yourself with an air conditioning problem this summer, here are five quick things you can try before calling us for service.

1. Change the batteries in your thermostat.

If you have a type of thermostat that runs on batteries, this could very well be the culprit for your air conditioning problems. A thermostat that needs new batteries could manifest in a couple of different ways.

If the batteries are truly dead, there will be no call for cooling so your air conditioning system won’t even turn on. If the batteries are just starting to fail, you might notice the AC is unable to keep up with the temperature setting at the thermostat.

It’s a good idea to change your thermostat batteries twice a year. Most people do this in the spring and fall, along with other seasonal home maintenance tasks. If you haven’t changed your batteries in a while and your AC is acting up, this should be the first thing you check.

2. Check the furnace switch.

Your furnace should have a switch where the electrical comes into the unit. This switch is for service and you should never have to do anything with it. However, utility rooms often double as storage spaces and every once in a while, the furnace switch gets bumped accidentally.

If this happens, it shuts the power off to the furnace…and the AC doesn’t work without the furnace. If your thermostat is calling and nothing is happening at all, check the furnace switch and make sure it wasn’t accidentally turned off.

3. Check the circuit breaker.

If your thermostat batteries are good and the furnace switch is on, go to the electrical panel and take a look at the circuit breakers. There will be a circuit for the furnace and one for the air conditioner. If either of these are tripped, your AC won’t work.

If your AC is regularly tripping the breaker, you need to have it looked at. There could be an issue with your AC unit or with something involving the electrical panel. This definitely isn’t something you want to wait on to address or you could wind up with costly repairs.

4. Change your air filter.

If your air conditioner is running but isn’t cooling effectively, you could very well have a dirty air filter. Air restriction can cause numerous problems with both your AC and your furnace. Air restriction not only reduces the unit’s ability to cool your home, it is also unable to cool itself. For your furnace, it puts the fan motor at risk for overheating. For your air conditioner, it’s the compressor.

The compressor is the heart of your air conditioning unit and it’s the last thing to be cooled in the cycle. If there is air restriction somewhere, the fan won’t be able to effectively cool the compressor. An overheated compressor could very likely mean the end of your air conditioner.

If you are experiencing what appears to be a problem with air restriction, the first place to check is the filter. The lifespan of a filter is a little different for every home. The standard 1’’ filters can last anywhere from 1-3 months depending on the amount of traffic in your home.

5. Clean your outdoor condenser.

Another common problem that causes air restriction is a dirty condenser. This is the outdoor portion of your air conditioning system. Take a look at your condenser and see if there is anything clogging up the coil. Grass clippings and cottonwood seed are notorious for getting caught in AC coils and blocking them up. This can be quite the problem because this is where the refrigerant releases all that heat it took from inside your home. If it can’t release the heat, the compressor is at risk of overheating and ultimately failing.

Luckily, this is an easy problem to solve. All you need is a garden hose with a spray nozzle. Aim the nozzle down at a 45-degree angle and simply rinse the debris off the coil. You might need to use a little bit of water pressure to get everything out.

If you’ve checked these 5 things and your AC still isn’t cooling, it’s time to schedule with the professionals and figure out what is going on.

A quick note on AC upgrades

One reason your air conditioner might not be keeping up is age. These units typically last around 15 years if they are well maintained. If your AC is nearing the end of its lifespan, it’s time to start thinking about an upgrade.

If you know you’ll need a replacement in the near future, having it done before the spring rush will be the best way to keep you cool later in the season when the summer heat shows up. If your AC is starting to show its age now, it might not survive the next heat wave and you could end up in a very hot and sticky situation.

If finances are the thing holding you back, we do have financing options and rebates available from the Mass Save program when you upgrade to an energy efficient unit. Air conditioners have become significantly more efficient over the last several years, which means you’ll likely see lower energy bills after upgrading.

Reminder: Always schedule your spring AC maintenance before the busy season begins! Mark your calendar for an April tune-up each year.