If your home air conditioning system has been struggling to cool your home, or isn’t working at all, you’ll likely need an AC repair or at least a tune-up. You can try a few basic fixes for your broken AC unit – checking the circuit breaker, making sure the thermostat is set to cooling, or ensuring that air-supply and exhaust pipes aren’t blocked. But if you can’t find and correct the problem yourself, don’t hesitate to contact a trusted Cincinnati HVAC contractor.
Air Conditioner Fix May or May Not Be Simple
The problem with the air conditioner may be connected to any one of a variety of issues. Some of them are simple; some are more complicated.
If your AC is running but not cooling properly, the problem might be:
- Blocked ducts or registers.
- A clogged air filter.
- Dirty or rusted heat-exchange coils.
- Leaking or low refrigerant level.
- Poorly maintained or otherwise defective blower motor.
- Air-flow issues.
- One of a variety of component failures.
If your cooling system is not running at all, the problem could be:
- A broken compressor, capacitor or blower motor.
- A tripped circuit.
- Refrigerant leak.
- An electrical issue inside or outside your home.
- A blocked air intake pipe. Fallen leaves and other yard debris may be the culprit.
Cooling System Repair
A trained and certified technician from Jansen Heating and Cooling will come to your home, obtain background from you on the cooling system problem, then inspect your cooling equipment, diagnose the issue, and fix your broken AC unit, if a repair can be done during that visit.This will be done promptly, efficiently and professionally.
In cases of air conditioning systems that have come to the end of their useful service life, an air conditioning repair may not be possible. Similarly, an AC compressor that’s gone kaput often will require an entire system replacement, since the compressor is such an expensive and key part of the system. You could compare it to an engine going bad in an automobile. In these cases, the technician will detail your options for a new cooling system, or refer you to a colleague who can. This doesn’t need to be the end of the world, however. Over time, a new high-efficiency AC system will use less energy than your old system, and deliver monthly savings on utility bills. It’s just a matter of how long it will take to save as much as the extra cost of the high-efficiency system. In the greater Cincinnati area, with its several-month cooling season, savings should accumulate in a reasonable period of time.
Air Conditioner or Heat Pump?
One decision you may be asked to make when considering a cooling system upgrade is whether to stick with the common central AC/furnace set-up, if that’s what you have, or switch to a heat pump that can provide both heating and cooling efficiently. Each option has pluses and minuses, though many homeowners are reluctant to give up the comfortable and relatively cheap heating they get from a combustion furnace in the winter. Plus, the house may already be outfitted for this type of set-up.
One common occurrence is for homeowners with electric baseboard heating to make the switch to an air-source heat pump, either a central system or ductless mini-splits that offer independent temperature control in several rooms or parts of the home. A dual-fuel heating system is another energy-efficient option. It couples a heat pump with a gas furnace. In most cases, this set-up employs the heat pump for primary heating in the winter, with the furnace serving as back-up heating during especially cold weather. However, most dual-fuel system allow the homeowner to switch from heat pump to furnace and back again, depending on factors such as the price of fuel or personal preference.
We know this can be a daunting process, but with Jansen, among the best Cincinnati HVAC companies, we hope you find the process seamless and productive.