Central air conditioner units face many challenges after a few chilling winter seasons. That’s why you have to understand how to perform AC repair and maintenance on your own.

We will tell you how to deal with the most widespread problems with air conditioners. In addition to that, you will learn when it’s best to entrust the heavy work to vetted AC repair technicians in Edmonton (Alberta).

So, keep reading our guide to learn more.

Basics to Know About Central Air Conditioning Units

Let’s start with the fundamentals.

We are going to focus on troubleshooting & trying to solve problems in central air conditioners. The two main types of central AC systems you will find in Edmonton homes are Split AC and Packaged AC units.

Split AC

As the name suggests, the split AC unit is a conditioner with two parts. It has a metal cabinet with a condenser inside. The compressor is positioned separately (usually, it’s either in the utility room or outdoors).

Split AC is the most popular air conditioning system for homeowners because it is cheaper to maintain and more energy-efficient.

Packaged AC

Package HVAC holds all of its parts in a single cabinet. This type of central air conditioners is prevalent in commercial facilities and offices. It’s less flexible compared to a split unit.

However, it’s easy to install and doesn’t take any space as it’s generally placed outdoors (which means that you won’t experience any noise).

Key Air Conditioner Repair Terminology

It’s important to understand what you are going to work with while repairing the AC unit. Please, refer to this section if you run into any unknown terms.

• Air filter. An essential part of the AC that’s located behind the intake register.
• Compressor. This component allows the refrigerant to go through the air conditioner’s system by pressurizing it.
• Condenser. An element of a split AC that removes the heat from the system that’s placed outside the cabinet.
• Condenser coil and pan. The coil is a part of the device where refrigerant releases heat and becomes liquid. The condenser pan catches the excess fluid from the coil.
• Contactor. An electrical transmitter that powers the AC.
• Refrigerant line. The tube that links the condenser coil and the air conditioner itself.
• Thermostat. A device that allows adjusting the setting of the air conditioning unit

Most Common AC Problems & DIY Repair Solutions

As you will see, most of the air conditioning problems are quite easy to fix by yourself. Let’s look at common issues with AC units and ways to address them.

Problem: My AC Unit Won’t Turn On. Start With These Simple Checks

Tools & Accessories:

• Screwdriver, usually a Phillips or flathead
• Flashlight (or smartphone)

Don’t let it put you down if the air conditioning unit refuses to show signs of life. It can mean different things – some of them are minor and can be fixed without hiring service experts for heating & air conditioning.

Let’s look at the common problems that prevent AC units from turning on.

Solution: Reset the electrical breaker.

The problem may lie in the tripped breaker (especially if there were power surges or outages). Here is what you need to do:

1. First, you need to open the main electrical panel in the house.
2. Check the primary and secondary circuit panels.
3. Next, identify the breaker that powers your AC system.
4. Reset the circuit breaker by turning it OFF and ON.
5. Afterward, you need to try powering the air conditioner again. If the problem persists and the breaker continues to trip – the issue lies elsewhere. We recommend calling a professional AC repair company or an electrician.  

Solution: Check your thermostat.

Next, let’s look at the thermostat. 

1. If the thermostat doesn’t work as well – turn off the power to the air conditioning unit, separate the body from the device’s base, and swap the batteries.
2. Check if the thermostat is set to the appropriate COOL or HEAT mode.
3. Move the fan switch from AUTO to ON mode.
4. Adjust the settings so that the temperature is set at least 3 degrees below the room’s temperature.

Problem: AC Unit Won’t Turn On – Advanced DIY Repairs

As mentioned previously, we recommend working with a professional AC repair person. A small problem can be made worse by an inexperienced owner attempting to save a few bucks. The following recommendations are advanced and we take no responsibility for problems that may be encountered or caused because of information provided. 

Thermostat wiring

Tools & Accessories:

• Electrical (Skin) gloves
• Screwdrivers
• Spare contactor and/or capacitor

What should you do if the instructions above didn’t help?

There are still some steps you can take before you hire a repair service in Edmonton.

The insides of the thermostat can be at fault. You can check it by doing the following:

1. Open the thermostat’s base.
2. Unscrew the wire from the Y (Y1) terminal.
3. Carefully apply the bare end of the Y wire to the R (Rc, Rh) terminal.

Does the compressor start? If yes – then your AC system is fine, but the thermostat needs replacement. 

If the compressor doesn’t power on, the problem may lie with the contactor or the capacitor.

• You will know if it’s a capacitor if you hear a clicking noise with a humming sound when attempting to turn on the AC unit. 
• On the other hand, if the humming (or buzzing) noises don’t accompany the compressor’s clicking sounds, then the contactor is at fault.

You will have to replace the contactor or the capacitor in this case. Of course, it’s best to hire an AC repair technician to handle the technical work if you don’t have the necessary skills.

Are you looking for the best professional air conditioner repair Edmonton can offer? ProSolutions Inc. provides reasonably priced AC repair & maintenance for homeowners in Alberta.

You can save considerably more money if you repair the thermostat instead of replacing it. However, it is highly unlikely that an average homeowner can fix a smart thermostat without an AC technician.

Problem: My AC system is not cooling at all.

Recommended Tools & Accessories:

• Screwdriver
• New filters

Many AC units cease to blow cold air after several years of service. It’s a widespread problem with central air conditioners. It’s also one of the most easily resolved issues.

In most cases, it means that the refrigeration system is malfunctioning. To solve this, you need to:

1. Ensure that the thermostat is functioning correctly and that it’s set to COOL mode.
2. Turn off the power to the air conditioner unit.
3. Open the front of the AC and check the air-handler cabinet.
4. Pull out the filters and clean them using warm soapy water. Let them dry for some time (about 6 or 7 hours) and put them back in. Alternatively, you can replace old filters altogether.
5. Look for the ice around the condenser coil or refrigerant lines. 
6. If you found the ice – don’t try to scrub it off. The best way to get rid of it is by powering the AC, setting the temperature up to the maximum, and letting it work for a couple of hours for the ice to melt.

We recommend performing AC maintenance like that every season to preserve the device.

What to do if the problem persists? It probably indicates a problem with the fan motor. In other words, fans don’t get enough electrical power due to malfunctioning equipment or a power leak. The best course of action in this situation is to hire an AC repair technician.

Problem: My AC is not cooling as much as normal (weak cooling).

Central AC units from Amana Heating & Conditioning

Tools & Accessories:

• Screwdriver
• Spare filters

If the air conditioner seems to work poorly, you can repeat the steps in the section above to fix it. 

However, it possible that your unit is too old. Moreover, the air conditioner can be too small for your home. If that’s the case, your air conditioner will keep malfunctioning no matter how many times you fix it.

That’s why sometimes it’s better to replace and old equipment with high-efficiency air conditioner designed for total home comfort.

Problem: My AC/furnace fan does not work.

Tools & Accessories:

• Screwdriver
• Replacement capacitor

As we mentioned, problems with fans can indicate an electrical leakage that requires professional treatment.

That said, you can still try a couple of solutions:

1. Open the front of the furnace system.
2. Check for an overload button or reset switch (not all units have a button like this).
3. Try spinning the fan with a screwdriver clockwise.
4. If the furnace fan starts spinning by itself after a little boost – you will need to replace the capacitor.

Problem: My AC system leaks water (inside the home).

Tools & Accessories:

• Screwdriver
• Wet/Dry vacuum cleaner
• A mix of bleach and water (1 cup of bleach with about a gallon of water)
• New condensate pan

Central AC systems typically collect about 20 gallons of water every day. Therefore, water leakage is one of the most common reasons for their repair.

What should you do if the water leaks from the device? First, check the pump.

1. Make sure that the tube is latched tightly to the pump.
2. Don’t be too quick to reconnect the tube if it came loose. Instead, dilute bleach and water (1 to 16 ratio) and use it to clean the tube of algae.
3. Use a vacuum cleaner on the pump to get rid of clogging and ice.
4. Use the screwdriver to loosen the condensation valve and take off the condensation drain tube.
5. Take away the AC filters to clean them (we talked about how to do it earlier).
6. Replace the condensate pan if the water keeps leaking after the steps above.

When All Else Fails – Entrust the Work to Professionals

No one would like it if their air conditioning system broke early in the winter, especially if you live in Alberta. That’s why you need to be able to repair it with your hands.

At the same time, some problems only vetted AC repair technicians can resolve. That’s why you shouldn’t delay calling professionals if you don’t know the cause of the problem (or if you are not confident about your engineering skills).

It would be even better to perform a regular AC maintenance instead of fixing or replacing the whole device.ProSolutions Inc. is a reputable company that can take care of the AC repair & maintenance for you. Want experts to take care of your home comfort? Then, feel free to call 780-453-6640.