Commercial and Residential Heating & Air Conditioning
Sales • Service • Installation

HERE ARE A FEW THINGS TO CHECK BEFORE CALLING FOR SERVICE:

 

 

 

 

Air conditioner not cooling
A central air conditioner that runs but isn’t cooling properly may just need to be cleaned. A good way to test for a dirty coil is to use your garden hose to spray a fine mist on the outside coils. This helps cool the high pressure gas inside the coil. This is what is supposed to take place with the fan and coils. If your unit performs better than the coil needs to be cleaned


Air conditioner doesn’t turn on
If your central air conditioner doesn’t go on immediately:

1) Be sure the thermostat is set to “cool” and below the current temperature.

2) A central air conditioner should be on a dedicated 240-volt circuit; check the main electrical panel and any secondary circuit panels for a tripped breaker or blown fuse. If you find the problem here, reset the breaker or replace the fuse. If you reset the breaker and it trips again immediately than it is probably a bad compressor or what is known as a “ground fault condtion”

3) Make sure the furnace power switch is turned on and that the outdoor condenser’s power switch, mounted on the outdoor unit, hasn’t been shut off. Also, be sure the 240-volt disconnect next to the compressor (in a metal box, usually mounted on the house wall) hasn’t been shut off.

4) Turn off the power to the air conditioner and check the thermostat.

5) Remove the thermostat’s cover and unscrew the wire from the Y terminal.

6) Turn the power back on.

7) Holding the wire by its insulation ONLY, touch the bare end to the R terminal and hold it there for about two minutes.Many thermostats have a built in timer that will not allow the unit to come on for a pre set amout of time, usually 3 minutes. This protects the compressor from starting against a high pressure. If the compressor kicks on after it times out  the thermostat is faulty; replace it or call an air-conditioning technician. If the compressor doesn’t go on when you hold the two wires together, turn the power back off and call a technician.

Major room temperature swings
When room temperatures swing more than about 3 degrees between when the air conditioner goes off and on again, it generally means that the air conditioner  isn’t cycling on often enough.

Room temperature drops too low
When room temperature drops lower than the set temperature on the thermostat, it usually means that the thermostat is improperly calibrated or installed where it doesn’t sense a proper sampling of room air.

Air handler squeals
Squealing sounds from a forced-air ac unit  generally occur when the belt that connects the motor to the fan slips. If the blower is making a grinding noise, shut off the unit and call a  technician—the motor's bearings are probably shot.

In most cases, the belt is improperly aligned or worn and needs replacement. Look at the belt for a glaze. If it is glazed (very shiney) then replace it.

This job involves removing the access panel, loosening a couple of bolts that hold the blower motor at the proper tension, and realigning or adjusting the belt. In many cases, it’s a good idea to remove it and buy a replacement.

When reinstalling the belt, be careful not to over tighten it as this can wear out the motor bearings.

Water pools next to air conditioner
Air conditioners and high-efficiency combustion furnaces create significant condensation, which exits through a plastic drain tube. This should go into a floor drain or be carried away by a small “condensate pump.” If water is pooling at the base of the appliance, something may be blocking the water’s flow, or leaking, or the pump may not be working. This can cause severe water damage to the ceiling below you.

1) Look to see if one of the tubes is leaking. If it is, replace it.

2) Test the condensate pump by pouring water into its pan. If the pump doesn’t start, either it isn’t receiving power or it is broken. Be sure that it’s plugged in and test the circuit. If it’s broken, either get it repaired or replace it.

3) If the pump runs but doesn’t empty the pan, the ball-like check valve just before the discharge tube is probably stuck. Unscrew the check valve, loosen the ball inside, and look for an obstruction.

If it appears that a condensation drain tube is clogged with algae, remove it if possible (you may have to cut it and replace it later with a coupling). Run a wire through it to clear it. To kill the algae, pour a dilute solution of bleach (1 part bleach to 16 parts water) through the pipe.

4) Ice may be blocking the tube. If this is the case, be sure the filter isn’t dirty. If the filter appears to be fine, the air conditioner’s refrigerant supply is probably low. This is when it’s time to call an air-conditioning technician.

Air ducts are noisy
Many heating/cooling ducts are metal so they conduct noise quite readily from the air-handling unit to your rooms. To break the conduction of sound, you can have a heating contractor insert flexible insulation ductwork between the heating/cooling system and the ductwork runs.

If you hear a pinging or popping sound coming from the ductwork, this may be caused by thermal expansion or by air blowing past a loose flap of metal. Track along the duct runs, listening for the sound. If you find it, make a small dent in the sheet metal to provide a more rigid surface that’s less likely to move as it heats and cools.

We will be happy to answer any of your questions whether you’re a DIY or just need a good reputable air conditioning service company to service your AC equipment. Give us a call at 773 HOT-COLD That’s 773 468-2653.

CITYWIDE SUPPLY & SERVICE
2517 W 59TH st
CHICAGO. IL 60629
773 HOT-COLD
773 468-2653

Our Partners

 http://thehvacsource.com/
http://goodmanmfg.com/ furnace/ac equipment
http://spectroline.com/   leak detection equipment
http://www.peerlessboilers.com/ boiler equipment
http://www.fasco.com/ motors
http://www.white-rodgers.com/wrdhom/index.html thermostats
http://www.tecumseh.com/ compressors
http://www.heil-hvac.com/ furnace/ac equipment
http://www.energystar.gov/ energy tips
http://www.ase.org/          energy tips
http://www.mcdonnellmiller.com/ boiler controls
http://www.corp.carrier.com/  furnace/ac/rooftop equipment
http://www.trane.com/    furnace/ac/rooftop equipment
http://www51.honeywell.com/honeywell/ controls

 

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