4 Ways To Keep Cool This Summer

The heat of the summer is the worst time for the central air conditioner to break. Working overtime with little to no rest, your air conditioner needs a break, and will take one at the most inopportune times.  Fortunately for you, we are here to help get your air conditioner back in working order, and provide some maintenance tips to help you avoid spending the entire summer sweating indoors and out. Here are four replacement parts that are the most common to fail on a central air conditioner and the easiest to replace.

Common Failing Parts

Fan Blade – Check to make sure the fan blade hasn’t come loose from the motor shaft. If the fan blade moves or wiggles on the motor shaft you will need to tighten it or replace the screws. If the fan motor is still making noise than replace the fan blade.

Thermistor – If a thermistor has failed the unit will normally blow cold air only for a short amount of time, or in short bursts and never actually reaching the correct temperature.  It can also cause the blower motor to blow the air at a low volume, erratically or not at all.

Contactor -   If the air conditioner is not cooling or not turning on at all than you can potentially have a problem with the contactor. The contactor controls the flow of electricity to all the main components of the air conditioner, it is used to cut off or provide power to the compressor, condenser and the motors.

Capacitor -  The capacitor resembles a nine-volt battery. It store energy that can either send a jolt to start a motor or keep a motor running. If the air conditioner is making a humming noise but the fan is not running than the capacitor is usually the problem.

Maintenance Tips

• Turn all power off completely from the homes interior shut-off box near the unit and also at the breaker box before performing any routine maintenance.
• Make sure your air filter is change regularly. A dirty air filter will restrict the air flow and make the unit work harder and can cause the blower motor to fail.
• Inspect for birds’ nests, insects, or other wildlife, that may be using your condensing unit for a habitat and remove them.
• Clean the debris from around the outside and the inside of the condensing unit and clear space around the sides and top of the unit to allow for proper air flow. Consider installing a gate if you are a homeowner with pets, this will deter them from marking their territory.  Use a brush attachment or shop vacuum, never use a pressure washer because it could damage the fins.
• Gently use a butter knife to straighten any bent fins that may be damaged to improve air-flow efficiency.
• Check the homes interior ductwork by inspecting the registers for obstructions and making sure the vents are free from fallen objects (toys, Q-tips, loose change) that could be blocking or restricting air flow.
• Test the thermostat to make sure the temperature is set correctly and run the air conditioner through a start and stop cycle to ensure it is properly powering on and off.

Frequently Asked Question

Most central air conditioners that are maintained properly should last between 15 and 20 years.  When the cost of repairing the central air conditioning unit exceeds half the cost of replacing the unit, it would be more cost effective to replace the entire system. Newer systems are often more energy efficient and replacing a unit that is over 10 years old would save long term money on energy bills.

Remember, Repair Clinic has millions of heating and cooling parts available for same-day shipping with a 365-day return policy.