Beat the Heat – Ensuring That Your Air Conditioner Can Handle the Summer Heat

There’s nothing quite like a broken AC unit in the middle of a heat wave to make you feel nostalgic for a January cold snap. While losing your heat in the winter can be a dramatic problem, it will be similarly problematic if your air conditioning starts malfunctioning in the middle of summer here in Winnipeg.

Just as you’d want to check the status of your furnace in the fall to ensure it is ready to handle the winter with this site, it’s imperative that you check you air conditioning unit.

At Randall Plumbing in Winnipeg, we want to ensure you enjoy the summer as much as possible. That’s why we recommend checking for the following symptoms to see if your air conditioning might need repair or replacement:

Your AC doesn’t turn on. Make sure your thermostat is set to “cool” and at the right temperature. If that doesn’t do it, check and reset the circuit breaker. Your unit still doesn’t turn on? Unfortunately, this could signal a burned-out compressor. This can be a costly AC repair, so consider replacing the unit if the cost of repair is more than 50% of the cost of a new one or the old unit is more than eight years old.

Your AC doesn’t seem to keep you as cool as it once did. If you haven’t changed the air filter in a while, do it now. It should be changed every 30 – 60 days, depending on the number of people in the house, if they smoke, the quality of the filter and if there are any pets. If you have an outdoor unit, there should be five feet of clearance above it and two feet around it. Make sure the refrigerant lines are well insulated and the refrigerant doesn’t need to be recharged. Cold air returns and vents in the house should be unobstructed.

AC turns off before it gets cool enough or constantly cycles on and off. The thermostat may need to be moved or replaced. If it is battery-operated, replace the battery. If these steps don’t work, have a professional inspect it to have your AC repaired.

Your electricity bill is through the roof. A jump in operating costs could mean a suffocated condenser. An outdoor unit may become clogged with dirt and debris. If this is the case, we strongly recommend that you schedule a professional tune-up.

Your AC unit makes strange sounds. Check for loose screws and parts, and lubricate what you have access to. If noise persists, it could be a tired blower motor or bent fan blade. Again, this can be a very complex issue, and we recommend that you contact a professional to check and perform any necessary repairs on the air conditioning unit before the problems become worse.

Your AC unit drips water. Check to make sure the condensation drain tube is not disconnected, crimped or clogged. If the unit is leaking, a professional should be able to resolve the problem, and you will then see dramatically improved performance from the unit.

Proper maintenance is the most cost-effective way of preventing problems with your air conditioning. Our technicians at Randall Plumbing are fully qualified to take care of all your maintenance needs and air conditioning repairs in the Winnipeg area.

Give us a call today to schedule an appointment with one of our professionals. We’ll service your unit before summer starts and make sure it’s the right one for your home, business or building. Contact us today to ensure that you are ready to make the most out of summer without stressing out over the reliability of your AC unit.