After a long, snowy winter, it's time to turn on your air conditioning for the summer. Your air conditioning system may need to go through proper inspection. Troubleshooting your system can identify problems that you can fix yourself without an HVAC professional. Although we encourage you to speak with our HVAC professional to ensure your air conditioner runs smoothly this summer, here are a few air conditioning repair tips you can DIY at home:

Changing the Filter

Changing the air filter is perhaps the easiest form of DIY air conditioning repair. In fact, regularly changing the air filter saves you both time and money. Dirty air filters inhibit proper air flow, which means even if your HVAC works, it's probably working harder than it should. If left unchanged, dirty air filters can cause your air conditioner to ice over. Play it safe and change the filters as frequently as needed.

If you have pets, you may need to change the filter every six weeks. It all depends on the amount of pet dander and dust in your home. Keep in mind that even the cleanest of homes have pet dander. If you don't have any pets, make a point to change the filters every three months.

Change The Batteries

If you happen to own a battery operated air conditioner, you might want to take a look at your thermostat. Seeing as how they run off batteries, these air conditioners can only run for so long before powering down. Check to see if your thermostat's temperature is set under the room temperature. If the room’s temperature doesn’t change, you may have to replace the batteries.

Break the Ice

If your AC freezes over, it will stop working completely. However, if there’s only a small amount of ice accumulation, then you may be able to DIY this repair. There are two ways you can go about it: Using a fan to melt it while the unit is off or you can simply leave the system off and let the ice melt on its own.

Clean the Unit

In some cases, if your AC unit isn’t working properly, it may just simply need to be cleaned. Cleaning the outside of the unit is quite simple. Dust off the blades of the fan and remove any debris that may be lodged inside. Even the condenser fins need a good scrubbing from time to time. However, be careful as the condenser fins are fragile. Lastly, make sure the unit is completely off before you clean it. Never attempt to clean your unit when it is plugged in to an electrical source.

Don't Forget The Ducts

Sometimes, the issue isn't your air conditioner at all. If your ductwork is dirty, it can prevent cool air from circulating properly. Inspect the vents and make sure they are clean.

With summer almost in full swing, now's the time to prep your AC unit. If you'd like to know learn more ways to repair your air conditioner, we've got your covered. Contact us today at (508) 593-9436 to speak to one of our HVAC professionals at Harwich Port Heating and Cooling.