Air Conditioner Repair Basics- Do-It-Yourself Air Conditioner Repair Tips | Kitchener ON

If your central air conditioner
stops working during summers, you may need to wait a few days for the HVAC
repair technician or communications contractor to show up, and you may need to
pay at least hundreds of dollars in repair costs. However, if you’re not
comfortable with spending around money on getting Air Conditioner Repair in NYC, you can
repair the air conditioning service yourself in about two hours and save around
$ 225 on premium parts and labour.

You will need a cheap multimeter,
a voltage detector, several insulated screwdrivers, and a plug kit. If these AC
repairs can’t be done normally, you’ve at least fixed the most common faults
and your service personnel can focus on finding more difficult-to-reach
problems. Plus, with new parts, you can add years of air conditioners with no
hassle.

Let’s get started with the
basics-

Why Doesn’t Your Air Conditioner Cool the House?

Make sure it’s not the heater
problem. Put the thermostat in AC mode and lower the temperature. If the stove
fan comes on, the problem is with the stove. If the fan does not work, try
resetting the oven circuit breaker. If the fan still won’t turn on, call a
professional; the solution shown here will not work. Next, check the outer
condenser. The compressor (sounds like a refrigerator) and the fan must be
running. Otherwise, follow the troubleshooting and repair steps shown here.
Warning: Turn off the power Before pulling the exterior isolation switch or
removing the condensing unit access panel, turn off the A / C and heater
circuit breaker at the main electrical panel. Then use a voltage tester on the
wires entering the contactor to make sure the power supply is actually
disconnected

 AC Not Working? Buy Parts

AC contactors (relays) and
start/run capacitors (see image below) are the most common faults and are
cheap. Therefore, it is a safe option to purchase and install these parts
immediately, especially if your air conditioning service department has been in
use for more than five years. The condenser fan motor can also malfunction, but
it costs around $ 150; Unless you are sure you are the culprit, do not buy it.
To buy replacement parts, look for the nameplate on the condensing unit (not on
the stove). Write down the make, model and serial number (or take a photo).
Obtain replacement parts at electrical stores, oven dealers, or online.

Steps For Air Conditioner Repair

Disconnect the power

Open the electrical box next to
the condensing unit and remove the pull-out block. Use a voltage detector to
check the inside of the electrical box to make sure the power is actually off.

clean the condenser coil

point your garden nozzle up at the top of the
condenser coil To remove the debris under the deck the tiles are piled up. Then
point the nozzle downward and clean the coil fins downward. Adjust the nozzle
in a gentler direction and spray water directly on the coil to remove any
remaining residue

 Test the fuse

 Many disconnect modules contain two cartridge
fuses. Check them before making repairs. A blown fuse is a sign of an internal
fault in the condensing unit. Therefore, do not replace it and assume that you
have solved the problem. Instead, replace the parts, install a new fuse, and
then turn on the device. If it rings again, call a professional; has a more
serious problem.

Inspect the inside of the access panel

 Disconnect power, remove and save the access
panel securing screws, and then remove the panel. Before replacing any parts,
check for rodent burrows or signs of bites in electrical cables and connectors.
If you find that the wire is broken or the insulation is bitten off and you can
safely perform electrical repairs, first discharge the capacitor. Then repair
the wires and clean the nest. Otherwise, call a professional. … Replace
start/run capacitor … All air conditioning service units have at least one
capacitor. The condenser stores electrical energy and releases electrical
energy during the startup of the compressor and condenser fans, providing
additional power to the two motors. In addition, it can eliminate voltage
fluctuations, thus protecting compressor and condenser fan motors from damage.
The capacitor will slowly degrade, providing less starting power over time.
Otherwise, they can fail immediately. The gradual failure of capacitors can go
unnoticed for a long time, putting pressure on the motor windings of
compressors and condenser fans, causing them to fail prematurely. Because
capacitors are cheap, they need to be replaced approximately every five years

Replace AC Contactor

 AC Contactor is a $ 25 mechanical relay that
uses low voltage power from the thermostat to switch 220-volt UHV current to
the compressor and condenser fan. The AC contactor can wear out and ranks first
on the list of common air conditioning service faults. Even if your AC
contactor is working, it should be replaced every five years or so. Before
removing the wires, unscrew the old AC contactor. Then move the cables to the
new unit.

Call Interstate Air Conditioning & Heating for Air
Conditioner Repair in NYC

Calling a professional
to repair your Air Conditioner is the best thing to do. Just in case, at any
point, you realize that this DIY guide is not very helpful, you can always
choose to call Interstate Air Conditioning & Heating, they can
offer you their services at a very reasonable price.