Excessively high summer temperatures are more than just uncomfortable. They also make daily tasks challenging and can even have an impact on your health. When you rely on your air conditioner to keep you cool and safe, an outage becomes an emergency. Here’s what to do if your AC stopped working during a heat wave and how Blue Ridge Heating & Cooling can help.
Things to Check Before Calling a Professional
Check Your Thermostat
Troubleshooting a broken AC starts by eliminating the easiest-to-fix issues. Take a look at your thermostat to make sure it’s still in “COOL” mode. Your thermostat may have been switched to “OFF” or even “HEAT” accidentally. If this happens a lot, consider getting a protective cover that keeps your thermostat locked inside. Or, you could invest in a smart thermostat that can be programmed to automatically turn your AC on and off according to a pre-set schedule.
Read More: How to Choose the Right Thermostat for Comfort and Savings
Check Your Breaker
If your AC is drawing too much power from your home’s electrical system, it could flip your breaker. This may be the case if your air conditioner was working just a few minutes ago and suddenly stopped. Check your breaker box and flip your switch back on if it tripped. Keep in mind that you may need to get in touch with an electrician to potentially upgrade your panel if your breaker keeps tripping.
Check Your Filters and Air Return
Dirty filters are a major culprit of a struggling air conditioner. If you’re barely feeling any cool air coming out of your vents, check your filters and air return for dust, lint, and built-up debris. This is especially true if you have pets, since hair can quickly accumulate as your system pulls air—and everything in it—through the ducts.
Read More: Five Benefits Of Replacing An Air Filter In Your Home
Look for Ice
If your air conditioner has been running at full blast to beat the heat, it’s possible your coils have frozen over. This might seem impossible when it’s so hot out, but the refrigerant running through your system can get extremely frigid. If you notice frost on your indoor unit, outdoor condenser, or refrigerant lines, try turning your system off and letting it thaw out for an hour or two before trying to turn it back on.
Read More: Why Is There Ice Buildup On My Air Conditioner?
Ways to Stay Cool While You Wait for Your AC to Be Fixed
Chances are, you’re already using fans to stay comfortable and avoiding using heat-producing appliances like the stove or clothes dryer. If you need more cooling than these methods can provide, try making a DIY swamp cooler to get you by until your HVAC professional arrives.
How to Make a Short-Term Swamp Cooler
What You’ll Need
- A bucket, Styrofoam or plastic cooler, or a Rubbermaid bin
- A fan that is smaller than or the same size as your receptacle
- Ice or frozen water bottles
- Utility knife
- Duct tape
- PVC pipe (optional)
Step 1: Trace the outline of your fan on the top of your receptacle. Then, cut this part out and affix your fan in the opening with duct tape.
*Note: The back of the fan should be facing outward to pull warm air into the cooler.
Step 2: Cut openings on the sides of your receptacle. This is where air that has been cooled by the ice will come out. You can also affix PVC pipes to these openings with duct tape to direct the cool air to specific areas.
Step 3: Turn your fan on to enjoy the cool air. Remember to turn the fan off and drain melted ice regularly.
Swamp coolers are not a replacement for a working air conditioner. They are a temporary fix to help keep the temps in your home reasonable while your AC is being fixed.
Blue Ridge Heating and Cooling: Your Solution for Dependable AC Repair in Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina
At Blue Ridge Heating and Cooling, we know how frustrating it can be for your air conditioner to suddenly stop working. We provide quick, reliable air conditioning repair services in upstate South Carolina and western North Carolina so you never have to wait too long in the summer heat without AC.
Contact us today for a service quote at (864) 735-1295 (Greenville, SC) or (828) 372-5324 (Brevard, NC). You can also click here for an instant estimate.
