At Razor Heating & Air Conditioning, the primary focus is to provide Saskatoon and surrounding area customers with quality work, prompt service, and innovative real-world solutions to everyday mechanical and home comfort issues. Whether it be an upgrade or repair to your current home or mechanical needs of a new home, Razor Heating and Air are the people to turn to for all your Air Conditioning, Heating and Indoor Air Quality needs. Their real-world, on-the-job trained employees have the industry experience and know-how to look past the rough edges of renovation or construction. The professionals at Razor strive to bring you quality products and services with a budget-minded solution. Razor Heating & Air Conditioning is a TRUSTED SASKATOON AIR CONDITIONING & FURNACE EXPERT!
Why Your Air Conditioner Is Not Cooling
An A/C unit that’s not cooling your home is a big problem. After all, that’s its one job.
When you’re A/C doesn’t perform as it should, it’s frustrating, time-consuming, and very hot.
There are several reasons your air conditioner may be failing to perform. The experts at Razor Heating and Air Conditioning are going to walk through each one – and how best to fix it.
1. Your Thermostat Isn’t Cooperating
Your first stop is your thermostat. You should make sure that your thermostat is not only set to ‘ON’ but that it is set to ‘COOL’. Test that it’s working by setting the thermostat several degrees cooler than the stated temperature. You want to feel that chill!
If you can hear the air conditioner running, but minutes later still don’t feel any cool air coming through the vents, there could be something wrong with your thermostat and its electrical wiring. Fixing that problem is best left to a professional. You should also make sure all your windows and doors are sealed shut, and your supply and return vents are open and unblocked. It’s little things like this that are easy to forget about but super easy to fix.
2. A Breaker Has Been Tripped
This tip is only for those homeowners whose air conditioners are not running at all. Your A/C runs on electricity. No electricity going to your air conditioner means no cool air making your home a summer paradise. It’s time to travel to the location of your breaker panel and do a check. The breakers for your air conditioner should be clearly labeled. Flip them off and on again, and see if this makes a difference.
3. Your Air Filter Is Clogged
Just because your air filter is located in your furnace’s blower doesn’t mean it isn’t used by your air conditioner. Your furnace’s air handler is what pushes the cooled air through the filter, through your ductwork, and into your home.
Therefore, if your air filter becomes clogged with dirt and debris, it’ll act a lot like a cork in a bottle: little to nothing is getting past it. Razor Heating and Air Conditioning recommend checking your filter once a month and changing it at least every 3 months – more often if you have hairy pets, allergies, or a lot of people living in your home. Air filters can be found at local hardware and home stores. Make sure you replace your current filter with one that is the same size.
4. Your Outdoor Unit is Coated in Dirt and Debris
Sensing a theme here? Dirt is no friend to an air conditioner. Your air conditioner condenser is located outside your home and left exposed to the elements when in use. After a while, all that wind and rain is bound to blow some dirt and debris into it. If there’s too much dirt, your condenser can’t perform the heat exchange process efficiently. There are things you can do to help with this particular problem.
For example, tidying up the landscaping around your condenser will help keep branches, bushes, and other vegetation from adding to the debris buildup. Razor Heating and Air Conditioning recommend keeping about 46 centimeters of space clear on all sides of your condenser. You should also wash your condenser regularly with water and soap. Gently wipe away dirt from the condenser fins, being very careful that they don’t break. In the offseason, make sure your condenser has a cover and it is secured tightly.
5. Houston, We Have a Mechanical Problem
While annual maintenance is an excellent way to reduce your risk of mechanical breakdowns, they can still happen. Whether it’s a broken fan motor or compressor, a mechanical problem could be the reason your A/C is not cooling properly. If you suspect a mechanical problem, you should call Trusted Saskatoon Air Conditioning Experts at Razor Heating and Air right away.
6. The Refrigerant in Your Air Conditioner is Leaking
Air conditioners use continuously circulating refrigerant to cool air. Normally the level of refrigerant never changes and your air conditioner is perfectly fine. If you spring a leak, that refrigerant level drops – and so does the amount of cool air you get. Refrigerant leaks can be identified by ice buildup, hissing noises, or a noticeable decrease in cooling efficiency. If you think you have a refrigerant leak, turn off your air conditioner and call us right away. This is a problem that should only be handled by experienced professionals.
7. Your AC Wasn’t Properly Installed
Unfortunately, this is seen all the time with both air conditioners and furnaces. An improperly installed air conditioner just won’t provide the cool air you need in an efficient manner. This is something you’ll notice after you get a new air conditioner. They can provide you with a second opinion, and do what they can to fix any potential problems. The size of your air conditioner is also incredibly important. If it’s too big or too small, you won’t be able to efficiently cool your home. Before you buy an air conditioner, meet with a qualified home specialist who can perform an evaluation and make recommendations.
8. Your Air Conditioner is Over the Hill
There comes a day when even the best air conditioner in the world just gets to be too old. Generally, after 15 years, you want to start paying close attention to how your air conditioner performs. If it gets to a point where you’re spending hundreds of dollars a year to keep it going, or you’re A/C is not cooling your home at all, it’s time for a replacement. The experts at Razor can perform an in-home consultation and walk you through the latest models, making recommendations for your home and your needs.
Get Help from the Professionals at Razor Heating and A/C
Trusted Saskatoon's Heating and Cooling Experts, Razor Heating and A/C are there to help you with all your Heating, Air Conditioning, and Indoor Air Quality Needs. Contact Razor today!