At some point your air conditioner is going to fail.  Michael’s Air Conditioning is here to help you. Here are the most common questions asked before a service call.  If you wondered if there was something simple you could do, check question 7 below.

1. How long does a furnace or air conditioner last?

2. How often should I change the filter?

3. How do I know if my air conditioner is large enough? It runs all the time.

4. How often should I have it serviced?

5. The system is running but the air coming out is not very cold.  What’s wrong?

6. I think my unit is frosting or icing up.  Is this a problem?

7. My air conditioner is not working today.  It was working fine yesterday.  What’s wrong?

• How long does a furnace or air conditioner last?  Most air conditioners last about an average of 12-15 years.  The average changes in each geographical area of the country.  In Oklahoma we use our air conditioner more than say in Michigan.

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• How often should I change the filter?  Well, that depends.  Each home is different.  The average filter should     be changed when it gets about half dirty.  In some homes that might be just one month and in others two months.  Remember if the filter is getting dirty it is working correctly.  Never let your filter get more than half dirty or the efficiency of your air conditioning system is going down.  Premium air filters, such as electrostatic, filter much better than fiberglass.  Who ever invented throwaway fiberglass air filters probably didn’t own an air conditioning system.    Consider buying premium electrostatic filters or a complete whole house air cleaner like Trane Clean Effects.

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• How do I know if my air conditioner is large enough? It runs all the time.  That can be a complex question.  Most air conditioners are large enough but the air flow can’t get through the system anymore because the coils are plugged up with what the air filter didn’t catch.  Cooling coils should be cleaned every five years or sooner if needed.  The attic insulation should be checked to see what R value is installed.  If these things are correct you might need a larger unit. You should have a heat load calculation done by a qualified HVAC contractor on your home.

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• How often should I have it serviced?  You should have your air conditioner and furnace serviced twice a year. This is usually done in the spring and the fall.

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• The system is running but the air coming out is not very cold.  What’s wrong?  If the air is just somewhat cool but not cold you probable have lost some of the freon (called refrigerant).  There can be other problems but this is the most common.  Leak repairs are expensive so if the leak is small you might just want to recharge the system.  If the leak is larger it would be more cost effective to repair the leak then recharge.  The compressor depends on the refrigerant to keep it cool.  If you lose too much refrigerant you can cause compressor damage. Freon can only be replaced by a certified HVAC person who has an EPA refrigerant handling license.

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• I think my unit is frosting or icing up.  Is this a problem?  Yes. Frost is first formed on the evaporator. This frosting occurs because of several problems. If air is restricted to your furnace thru the return air duct frost will occur. Your indoor fan might not be running. Frost might indicate your system is low on freon and needs to be serviced. If frost appears on the lines outside at the condenser the problem has escalated to causing compressor damage.  

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• My air conditioner is not working today.  It was working fine yesterday.  What’s wrong?  Check and see if thermostat selector switch is set to “cool” position. Or you might, Check to see if furnace fan will come on when you switch selector switch from fan auto to on. If fan comes on, you have electricity power to furnace. Check to see if outside unit is running. If it’s not running you might check the breaker to the outside unit? Reset the breaker by turning it to “off” then turn it back “on”. Does it have fuses? If you feel uncomfortable doing any of this or it is still not cooling we are here to help. Your Safety is important. Do not attempt to do any of this if you are not qualified to do so. If none of this fixes the problem you should consider scheduling an appointment.

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