It is not only an inconvenience but can soon be a safety issue when your air conditioning goes dead in the middle of a heatwave that is blazing away. When the weather is hot, your system over works and hence more vulnerable to malfunctions at the time when you need it most. Knowing what to do is the first step to saving your life before panic hits, as you will be able to save yourself in a matter of seconds or reduce the effects of the heat as you await professional attention.
Carry out Immediate Troubleshooting
Always look to the fundamentals before making a bad assumption. There are a great number of cases of AC failures which have minor fixes that can be done by homeowners. The first thing to do is check your thermostat to make sure you put it to the cool option and the setting is lower than what the room is at. In case the screen is black, change the batteries.
Second, check your electric socket. Circuits may also be tripped by extreme heat because it places a high energy demand on the circuit. When a breaker has been tripped, turn it on but do not force when it trips again in a short time this indicates there is a dangerous electrical fault. Last but not least is to check your air filter. A congested filter slows down the flow of air and this is why the system freezes. The problem could be immediately resolved by replacing a dirty filter with a clean one.
Know When to Call a Professional
When simple troubleshooting fails to get cool air, then it is probably a mechanical or electrical problem that needs a certified technician. The refrigerant leaks, broken capacitors or frozen evaporator coils are not a DIY task and demand special tools. Any such attempt at repairing them can render them invalid or can also lead to additional damage.
It is important to have a trusted contact in the case of such emergencies. Like, this company in Louisville, KY offers the commitment and technical skill of the veteran to help homeowners find reliable service, particularly in diagnosing and repairing systems. Profit-professional technicians are free and responsible enough to work with high-voltage components and refrigerants and get your system started and running right instead of simply putting a band-aid on the problem.
How to Wait Safely and Coolly
Scheduling a repair is no longer your top priority after you have done it. Shutter all blinds and curtains particularly south and west window so as to exclude the heat of the sun. Until evening avert the use of heat producing appliances such as ovens, dishwashers, or dry cleaners.
The ceiling fans must be programmed to turn in a counterclockwise motion so as to provide the wind-chill effect. Although fans do not reduce the room temperature, they make you feel colder through evaporating sweat. Should the inside temperature be unsafe, especially to the elderly, small children or pets, it is advisable to move to a public library, shopping mall or a friend until the job is done. One of them is hydration; take water in abundance even when you are not thirsty.
Prevention and Routine Maintenance
Preventing the occurrence of an AC breakdown is the most appropriate way to deal with it. Being a result of unattended maintenance, most heatwave emergency calls are often the result of heatwave. Tune-ups can be done at least once a year to enable technicians to spot minor problems such as loose wires or frayed belts, before these problems translate into system failure during the demand of extreme heat. Periodic tests also guarantee cleaning of your coils and optimality of the refrigerant levels in case of saving on your energy bills.
Conclusion
A break-down in the AC when it is very hot should be approached calmly and in a slow and gradual manner. You can go around the breakdown by making sure that you run through the simple parts initially, know who to call when you need complex repairs and control temperatures indoors as you wait. By giving maintenance priority, you will be in charge in case the next heatwave strikes, your system will be ready to take up the load without collapsing.
