You should have knowledge about certain aspects of air conditioning systems before trying to repair them in your office or home. Many people try to fix air conditioners themselves when their air conditioning system develops a fault or breaks down, without understanding the concepts involved fully. HVAC repair (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) is best left to professionals. However, once you understand the principles, it is feasible for you to carry out a simple air conditioner service.
The typical office or home air conditioner consists of two discrete units and works on the principles of simple physics. The two units involved in the office or home air conditioner are the evaporator and the condenser. Freon gas is put under pressure in the condenser, following which it then passes through a heat exchanger. This process removes heat from the gas and converts it into a liquid state. It then passes into the evaporating unit through an expansion valve. The liquefied Freon expands and evaporates to a gaseous state. The dormant heat needed for this comes from the environment that is then chilled when the cooled air gets blown into the room. The gas, whose temperature rises due to the higher air temperature of the room returns into the condenser in which the heat is removed. This is a continuous cycle.
Both the condenser and evaporator consist of sealed units that you cannot repair on your own and requires the attention of a trained professional. However, you can keep everything clean and clear of debris, which includes all the mesh guards and so on. Although you cannot undertake HVAC repair, you can do simple AC service yourself. Find below some basic air conditioner troubleshooting, repair, and service tips.
The system does not run
Check the circuit breakers and the fuses. If they are fine check whether the thermostat is set to an abnormally high level. You need a professional HVAC repair engineer if lowering the thermostat by five degrees fails.
No Chillin
Check the thermostat and try lowering it. Check the condenser air intake if that does not work. The filter might be blocked, especially during the fall season when there are lots of leaves flying about. Straighten the fins of the fan if they are not straight. Call a professional technician if nothing works.
Erratic Cooling
You can only clean the condenser as much as possible for this and all other faults, and call an engineer if that fails. It is quite common for units to be choked by one form of vegetation or the other. Make sure that the concrete pad on which the condenser is sitting is parallel with the ground level, as concrete can on occasions break apart and put the motor and the condenser out of level, affecting their operation.
Amateurs trying to carry out their own air conditioner repair should never attempt to repair the evaporator and condenser as they are sealed units. A dirty or blocked evaporator is the most common problem, which you can fix by yourself. You should not experience these problems except in extreme weather conditions when different types of debris including get blown into the unit if you seek the help of a professional to conduct regular air conditioner service.
You can clean the evaporator unit by first removing the insulation followed by the evaporator access plate. However, it is more effective and safer in the long run to have an annual maintenance contract with a professional HVAC technician to do these tasks for you on a regular basis.
Repairing HVAC units is a job for professionals if you want it done in a proper manner. Attempting to do it yourself not only requires of getting into the units, followed by the greater issue of conducting effecting a safe repair. It also means that you have to reassemble the unit in a safe fashion.
While you should opt for a professional air conditioner repair service, go for one that offers you a free estimate. Certain technicians charge for the estimate whether you accept it or not. Many companies that offer obligation-free estimates do a good job as well as are relatively inexpensive plus do a good job. Businesses cannot afford to provide obligation free estimates unless their prices are very competitive and they are good at what they do.
Make sure that the repairing costs include a guarantee for labor and parts they install. Confirm if they offer you a trade-in deal if your current system has to be replaced. The technician of the repair company will recommend you to opt for a 24 x 7 service deal because they do not want you to remain sweating when your HVAC unit breaks down; opt for it. Ask for a discount if you are a senior citizen. You never know when lady luck will smile on you.