Have a Plan for an Emergency Air Conditioner Repair When You Have a Broken Air Conditioner

The summer heat is upon us and our A/C units are our best friends for the next few months. There is nothing worse than having your air conditioner break down in the Arizona heat, therefore you should be prepared for the worst. If you know what might break your A/C, you can work to preserve your unit or quickly have your A/C up and running again. There are three main ways your A/C might break this summer, don’t let them make you miserable.

First, you may be overworking your A/C unit. This can stem from having too small of a unit for your home, leaving the A/C on for too long, or setting the temperature too low for it to operate effectively. When your unit is too small, it must work harder to efficiently cool your home and may overheat. This causes your air conditioner to trip the circuit breaker and shut off all your other appliances. You can easily turn them back on, but do not ignore the sign that your A/C is being overworked. When the circuit breaker is tripped, it is your A/C attempting to protect your home and appliances by shutting down. If this happens to you, you should contact repair services to fix your unit ASAP. You may not realize, but when monsoon season comes, this actually causes your A/C systems to work harder than when the weather is dry. It is extremely important to maintain your system during monsoon season or you may need an emergency air conditioner repair. Additionally, A/C units are only expected to be able to lower the temperature in your home by about 20-25 degrees from the outside temperature. If it is 110 outside, setting your air conditioner to 75 is going to overwork the system as it tries to lower the temperature and may cause the system to stop working.

Next, you might get a broken air conditioner if you have not been keeping up with regular maintenance. It is smart to have a professional check your cooling system before the heat strikes, as well as before entering the cooler months. This can ensure your unit has the proper fluid levels and all the components are in good condition to take on the heat. During the summer, it is advised you perform some basic maintenance yourself to keep the unit running properly. Simple things such as cleaning the air filters or cleaning the outside unit of any debris in the fan blades once a month can keep the unit running smoothly for the summer. The Department of Energy estimates that by cleaning your air filters, your system uses about 5-15% less energy. This can create a substantial difference on your electricity bills, especially when your air conditioner is running during the long summer days. A/C units collect about 9 gallons of water as a byproduct of cooling your home. This water drains out through pipes, but occasionally will clog up, shutting down your A/C system to prevent any flooding. If you find yourself with clogged drain lines, contact a professional for HVAC service and clean the system.

Lastly, your unit may be breaking down because it is old and needs to be replaced. Air conditioners are expected to last about 10-15 years. In Arizona, where the climate is hot and dry, even the best A/C units can only last so long after years of hard work. The signs you might be ready to replace your old unit are frequently needing repairs and service on the system, poor air quality, or your system is consistently inefficient. A broken air conditioner system is an expensive system. A good measurement of when you should replace your system is the 50% rule. Once the total cost of repairs reaches 50% of the price of the A/C unit, it is about time to begin the search for a new air conditioning unit. A new unit will help prevent you from requiring an emergency air conditioner repair in the middle of summer. If you are looking to replace your unit, be sure to have a professional check it is the proper size for your home. As mentioned, a small unit will be overworked and be less efficient, while a larger unit will consume more energy than necessary to cool your home.

Preparing yourself for the summer with regular maintenance and inspections is the best way to keep your home cooled. Nobody wants to be stuck in a house with a broken A/C, especially not when the temperatures are rising above 100 degrees. If you find yourself needing an emergency service, contact a professional to come save the day!