Troubleshooting Tips for an Air Conditioner That’s Acting Up

Schedule Now

If your cooling system isn’t doing its job, a little air conditioner troubleshooting can keep you from suffering through the greater Cincinnati area’s summer heat and save you a call to your technician.

Air Conditioner Troubleshooting

  • Clean it up – Dirt and buildup interfere with airflow and can prevent your system from cooling sufficiently. It can also cause the cooling system to turn on and off frequently, so it can’t dehumidify well. To improve airflow, replace the air filter regularly. Next, clear debris from the fins of the outdoor condenser unit with a stiff brush. Remove register and vent covers, vacuum out the accessible parts of the ducts and wash the covers. You can clean a dusty indoor evaporator coil with condensed air or foaming coil cleaner.
  • Check the condensate pump – A malfunctioning condensate pump keeps an air conditioning system from cooling and dehumidifying enough to keep you comfortable. If water is below the condensate pan and you don’t hear the pump kick on, contact your HVAC professional.
  • Adjust the thermostat’s heat anticipator – Inside your thermostat is a small disc marked with numbers. Move the lever on this disc toward the “longer” mark if your A/C cycles on and off frequently. Move it away from the “longer” mark if the A/C never manages to get the temperature right, instead keeping your house too hot or too cool.
  • Consider the size – In years past, some builders would install oversized cooling systems to ensure they can handle the hottest days. As part of your air conditioner troubleshooting, consider whether your air conditioner cycles frequently and doesn’t dehumidify well. In this case, it may be oversized. If your system is more than 10 years old, consider upgrading to a new air conditioner and make sure the technician sizes the system accurately.

If air conditioner troubleshooting doesn’t solve your cooling problem, or for other home comfort concerns, contact the pros at Apollo Home Heating, Cooling and Plumbing in the greater Cincinnati area.

Image via Shutterstock.com

"Ernie & Mike did a superb job on my new furnace and A/C installation. Despite having more than a day’s work to do, they came in and stayed until the job was done. They were organized, efficient, and protected the rest of the house well. Got both furnace and A/C installed the same day. Ernie was courteous, informative, and clearly knew his job better than anyone I’ve encountered before. The units look so good guests now get The Tour of our new system. Apollo is clearly not a fly-by-night company. I would recommend them to anyone in need of a new furnace and/or A/C."
- Jerry A.
"I called Apollo because of a water leak I thought I had in our upstairs shower going into the kitchen. Robbie came and assured me everything was fine & looked at all the other plumbing. He ended up changing a few pipes for our washer & clearing a drain. He was very nice & knowledgeable with all my questions. I ended up signing up for the care plan & was very happy with my service."
- Cassandra B.
"The team at Apollo exceeded my expectations. As a business owner, my attention to the details and commitment to providing excellent service is high. From the sales rep. to the installation team, everyone’s performance was outstanding. For example, the installation team went to great lengths to protect our floors, placing floor runners and across the wood floors and up the stairs. They even were spot washing walls upon their departure. I highly recommend this company."
- Randy B.
"We scheduled an estimate AND a tune-up. We knew something was wrong with our furnace, but hoped we could make it through the rest of the season. Upon telling Bill what our furnace was doing, he warned us immediately what the possible outcome was going to be; a cracked heat exchanger. He watched the flames roll backward, tested carbon monoxide levels, which were so high they meter’s last reading was 5,600 before saying “high”. He immediately shut it down, tagged it, and explained that with levels that high and children in our home he wanted off right away. He continued his inspection and showed us via a camera that not only was it cracked in multiple places, but had holes all over it. He gave us a few options for repairing it; his knowledge as well as genuine concern was beneficial and refreshing. Luckily we also scheduled an estimator, Micah, to come too and we were able to get costs between repairing and replacing (with several options). We decided to replace with a much higher efficiency furnace and one sized properly to our home. Hands down, not only did they both provide us great service and knowledge, but without sounding dramatic, they may have saved our lives. This was our first time calling Apollo, but it won’t be our last."
- Sarah B.
"Apollo is an excellent company. I always receive great service. Alex A. was professional and friendly. He kept me informed during the process of checking my furnace and heat pump to make sure they were working properly. The company makes sure you are notified who is coming and when they are on the way. All my interactions with the company have been wonderful."
- Beverly S.
    Image

    Financing

    Image

    Apollo Care Plan