thermostat displaying boiling

AIR CONDITIONER TROUBLESHOOTING MADE EASY

OK, it’s been a little steamy for a few weeks now, but today we are nearing the official first day of summer. This means … well, we’re not sure it means anything other than this: it’s going to be hot and humid here in the Zeeland and Holland, Michigan areas.

That’s OK, we love summer as much anybody else, but it’s important to remember the infamous Murphy’s Law: what can go wrong, will go wrong. This pertains to your home’s heating and cooling system in a very specific way. That is, your furnace will go kaput when it is zero outside and your air conditioner will start acting up when the thermometer creeps past 90.

Of course, this is extremely inconvenient for a couple of reasons. First, you don’t want it to be hot and humid in your house and two, everyone else’s air conditioners are breaking down at the same time. The result is a high demand for air conditioner service and repair, which means it could be a few days before a cooling technician can get to you.

Mast Heating & Cooling is western Michigan’s top choice for air conditioning service, repair and installation and we are ready for a busy summer. That said, our heating and cooling technicians want you to know that while many air conditioner issues need the attention of licensed professionals, many others can be resolved by homeowners. So, here are a few A/C troubleshooting tips for you to try before you pick up the phone and call us.

CHECK THE THERMOSTAT

Sounds overly simple, right? Well, yes, but making sure your thermostat is working properly and set to the temperature that you desire is the first thing you should do. It’s the first thing a service technician will do when making a call.

CONDENSER NOT RUNNING

After you have correctly adjusted your thermostat, the condenser should kick on. If it doesn’t, check that it is plugged in and make sure there are no blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers. If it still does not run, this could signal a faulty air conditioner motor or compressor. Time to call Mast Heating & Cooling.

AIR CONDITIONER NOT COOLING

If your air conditioner is running but not cooling, it could be the result of several issues. First, once again make sure the thermostat is working properly and lower it five degrees. If the unit still does not blow cooler air, this could mean problems with the condenser or evaporator. Clean the condenser coil and fins and clear any debris from around the condenser. Do the same with the evaporator. If it still is not cooling, it could mean a faulty compressor or a low or leaking refrigerant issue. If you see ice on the lines to and from the unit, it is likely the latter. Either way, better call Mast Heating & Cooling.

When you do call Mast Heating & Cooling, our friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives stand ready to answer your questions and may be able to walk you through these troubleshooting tips over the phone. If need be, they will be happy to schedule a service call with our technicians so we can get your air conditioner problem diagnosed and solved. We offer complete air conditioning service, repair and installation on all models and feature a complete line of Trane systems. Our goal is your comfort, so call us today!