The average cost of a new air conditioner is between $3,000 and $7,000. When you’re paying that much for a piece of equipment, you expect it to work all the time, right?But sometimes, accidents happen and homeowners find themselves dealing with a broken AC unit. And it always seems to break right when you need it most.When your AC isn’t working, it’s easy to start panicking or get frustrated.But you don’t have to. We’re here to help. And we’ve put together a few simple things you can do when you can’t cool your home.
Check for Outages
When your HVAC system stops working right when you need it, it’s easy to assume the worst. But the problem might not be with your unit at all.In fact, it could just be a rolling summer power outage.Check the other appliances and electronics in your home. If they’re all working properly, the problem is your air conditioner.If only a few of your appliances have no power, you probably blew a fuse. Head to your breaker box to check and reset any tripped breakers. This should restore power to your AC system.If it doesn’t, schedule a repair appointment immediately.
Inspect Your Thermostat
Accidents happen. And sometimes, the thermostat gets turned off or temperature settings change. Before you jump to conclusions and start worrying about a broken air conditioner, check your thermostat. See if any of the settings changed by accident. If not, try replacing the batteries. In most cases, this will be enough to reset the system and get your AC up and running. If not, schedule a repair appointment and let a professional inspect the system.
Find Somewhere Cool to Go
When the temperatures rise, you need a place to cool off. And when your air conditioning system breaks, that place won’t be your home. Head to a coffee shop, the library, the mall, or take in a movie. Anywhere with a functioning AC unit will do the trick. If the weather is really hot, you may want to take the pets to their veterinarian and board them overnight. The last thing any pet parent wants is to watch their furry family members suffer in the heat.
Keep Your Refrigerator Closed
It’s tempting to use the refrigerator to cool off when the air conditioner stops working. But doing so could cost you. Every time you open the fridge or freezer doors, you let cold air out into the room. This causes the temperature inside the fridge to heat up. Once it hits a certain temperature, the fridge kicks on and starts cooling down again. The warmer the room is, the harder the refrigerator has to work to get cool again. When your AC is out, use the fridge sparingly. Open it when you need to and do it as fast as you can. This will save you money on your electric bill and helps reduce the chance of adding a broken fridge to your list of repairs.
Close the Blinds
Your windows may provide a lot of natural light. But when you have a broken AC unit, they also let a lot of heat indoors. As the sun filters through the window, it warms up the room. And over time, this can make your space incredibly uncomfortable.It might not be as warm as it is outside, but you’ll still want to keep as much heat out as possible. All you have to do is close the blinds or curtains. This blocks the sun and keeps the heat out during the day. Once the outdoor temps drop, open the windows and let the cool air inside.
Plug in a Fan
Believe it or not, using a fan can make you feel cooler the minute you turn it on. That’s because moving air is dryer than air in a still room. Remember, it’s the humidity that makes you feel the heat most. When you circulate air with a fan, it helps to remove the humidity and helps the sweat on your skin evaporate. If you have a ceiling fan in the room, use it. If not, a freestanding fan works just fine. Keep in mind that you don’t have to leave the fan running while you’re not in the room. Since it cools you, not the room itself, leaving it on is just a waste of energy.
Don’t Put Off Repair Appointments
Putting off a repair appointment is the last thing any homeowner should do in the middle of the summer. It can lead to worse problems and leave you wondering why your AC isn’t working when you need it most. As soon as you notice your unit struggling to keep up with the thermostat, have the system inspected. The sooner you get it looked at, the less likely you are to deal with a broken AC unit in the first place. And if you can prevent it, you’ll save money in the long-run.
Get Your Broken AC Unit Fixed Today
The last thing you need to do is deal with summer heat without a working air conditioner. At Action Plus Heating & Air Conditioning, we’ll help you get your system up and running fast. Our experienced technicians will inspect your system for damage and find the underlying cause. Once they do, they’ll make the repairs fast, leaving you with a cool and comfortable home. Don’t wait until you’re dealing with a broken AC unit. Stay on top of repairs and contact our team to schedule a routine maintenance appointment today.