A lot of times, an air conditioner that won’t turn on can be solved with some simple troubleshooting by you. Frequently the problem is power sources, so check them all. Switches on the condenser and air handler, thermostat batteries, and circuit breakers. Next, make sure your thermostat is set properly – it should be placed on COOL mode, and the temperature a few degrees lower than the current room temperature. If these troubleshooting tasks don’t bring back cool air, call in the professionals.

Once a month is a pretty good general guideline for most people. Depending on where you live and how much dirt, pet dander, and other pollutants are present, the answer could be more or less. Check your filter frequently to determine if it’s dirty; if so, change it.

There’s no simple solution for this one. A lot of dynamics will go into what size heating and cooling unit you’ll need. The type of home you own, its walls, windows, insulation, attic space, and more can go into establishing what size unit is required. A system that is too big could result in a home that’s too humid, causing problems with moisture and mold. A system that is too little will run constantly, running up your energy bill. Only a qualified heating and cooling technician can determine what size unit is best for your home.

While safeguarding your unit can prevent unnecessary debris from gathering on the unit, it can also cause problems if you try to operate it with the covering in place. If you’re going on a long trip and plan to turn the unit off while you’re gone, feel free to cover it up. Just make sure you disconnect the power source before leaving.

There are a lot of reasons why your air conditioning system might freeze up, and all of them require help from a professional technician to resolve, as only they have the training and correct tools to fix the problem.

Ironically, low refrigerant can cause your system to freeze up. Over time, wear and tear to your system can result in leaks that cause the system to lose refrigerant. When your unit loses refrigerant, it causes the system to freeze up because of low pressure inside the system.

When freon levels are low, the refrigerant still is forced to expand to the same amount. The more that expansion occurs, the cooler the temperature is produced. The colder temperature will cause moisture in the air around your unit’s evaporator coil to freeze, ultimately icing up the coil and impeding its function.

Dirty evaporator coils can cause units to lose airflow and, finally, cause the system to freeze up. Defective blower motors can also cause freezing.

Zoning Systems separate your air conditioning system’s ductwork into different sections, allowing you to implement temperature control in each segment, thus allowing for more targeted and efficient air conditioning.

For example, you may have a room with many windows that gets hot in the summer and which may need more air to cool down, while you may also have a rarely occupied guest room on the other end of the house. With a zoned air conditioning system, you can direct more cold air to the many-windowed room and less air to the unoccupied room. This allows for more efficient use of your AC system and more comfortable home.

Indoor air quality is a major concern, as many studies show that air pollution is much worse indoors than outdoors. You can improve your indoor air quality with frequent dusting and vacuuming, and you can also have a qualified technician install devices such as UV light units, special air filters, and electronic air cleaners to improve indoor air quality. Poor indoor air quality has been linked to many illnesses, so improving your home’s air quality is an investment worth making.

Heating and cooling units are a big investment, so it’s understandable that you’d want them to last as long as possible. Decreasing usage is always helpful, so turn the thermostat up or down, as needed, to reduce use when you’re not at home. Replacing air filters will prevent clogs. Regular check-ups can also help you ward off any potential trouble spots.

These are just a few of the questions air conditioning and heating specialists answer every day. When you have questions about your heating and cooling system, it pays to get help from experienced professionals.

Your HVAC systems should be tuned up before the start of each heating and cooling season. So, your air conditioner should have regular maintenance performed at the end of winter or beginning of spring, while your heat pump or furnace should have its regular maintenance performed at the end of summer or beginning of fall.