Central Air, Do you need a technician?

When our 22 yr old air conditioner stopped working early this summer (of course, when it was 90+ degrees out) I was really afraid we were looking to shell out a few thousand dollars to fix it. Thankfully the technicians at most heating and cooling places can diagnose many problems over the phone.

If you can find a tag on your air conditioner that has an installer's name and number on it, even if it was put in before you purchased your home, give them a call. Tell them your system's symptoms (try saying that seven times in succession) and ask them if there's anything you might be able to try on your own.

I learned a few tricks to figure out if the problem is the air conditioner or something else. First, look to your thermostat. Does it appear to be working correctly? Is it switched to cool? What happens if you turn it to "fan on"? All thermostats work a little differently, and most manuals can be found online. If the fan does turn on if you switch it to on, chances are good that the thermostat is in working order. Though, if you have one, I would try the reset button before moving on.

If your thermostat is working properly, but your A/C unit isn't cooling the air, it might be an issue of power. When you turn the thermostat to cool, does your air conditioner make any sounds? Does it click, or does it just sit there? If you can't see anything happening, try resetting the power at the fuse or breaker box.

If there is a clicking noise, or you cannot get the unit to do anything even when resetting the thermostat and the breakers, it's best to call a technician.