How to Check Your Air Conditioner Before Calling for Service.

Getting your air conditioner serviced can be expensive and require you to live uncomfortably while waiting for a service technician. Following these steps can possibly save some money and heartache.

Steps

1. Change your filter regularly. This simple step alone can increase the efficiency of your air conditioner. It will also run less, increasing the life span of your equipment.
2. Wash your condenser coil regularly. Simply turn off your air conditioner, get a garden hose, and spray the coil using an "up/down" pattern. Be particularly attentive if your condenser is close to a dryer vent, or if your neighborhood is full of cottonwood trees. These two items are "air conditioner killers".
3. Look for ice around your condenser. If there is ice around the copper lines, immediately turn off your air conditioner and call for service.
4. Is the condenser and/or furnace operating at all? If not, check breakers and fuses.