In summer, triple-digit daytime temperatures are the norm in Gilbert, AZ. This makes every AC breakdown a bona fide cooling emergency. Without a functional air conditioner, residents face the risk of severe dehydration, heat exhaustion, and other temperature-related health issues. Fortunately, there are several things that you can do to both successfully navigate the AC repair process and expedite it.
Know the Difference Between Fixing and Troubleshooting
When AC problems arise and the mercury has already soared, the faster that you take action, the better. Local HVAC companies are often inundated with service requests during the peak summer season. Waiting to schedule repairs as you tinker around with your cooling equipment could mean missing out.
Understanding the difference between fixing and troubleshooting your air conditioner will help you avoid unnecessary scheduling delays. Troubleshooting is simply taking steps to optimize operating conditions. It includes:
- Checking and clearing the perimeters of outdoor condenser units
- Replacing dirty HVAC air filters
- Finding and opening closed HVAC air vents
- Clearing build-ups behind vent covers
Anything that involves opening AC housing and tampering with or replacing moving parts is a repair. It should take just minutes to run through these and other basic troubleshooting steps. Contacting HVAC professionals right after will help you book the earliest appointment possible. It will also preserve your manufacturer’s warranty.
Why Do-It-Yourself AC Repairs Are Never a Good Idea
Performing do-it-yourself AC repairs is dangerous. Air conditioners are hardwired into residential electrical systems. As such, tampering with any of their moving parts, electrical contacts, or wires poses the risk of electric shock and potentially fatal electrocution. With most AC warranties, DIY repair projects automatically void warranty protections. Thus, no matter how anxious or uncomfortable you are, it’s always best to wait for HVAC professionals instead.
Take Steps to Keep the Building Interior Cool
If you only have to wait for a matter of hours before HVAC technicians arrive, you may be able to eke it out at home. Make sure that all of your curtains and blinds are closed to block out solar heat gains. Turn off all heat-generating appliances and dim your lights or turn them off. If you have ceiling fans or standing fans, turn them on. Make sure that your ceiling fans are set to rotate counterclockwise in summer so that they push a cooling breeze down.
Alert Residents
Let everyone know that your HVAC system isn’t working. Have other building residents dim the lights in their rooms, close their curtains or blinds, and turn their heat-generating appliances off. Surprisingly, even a single, active gaming computer can add a considerable amount of heat to a room. You can also have everyone crowd into the coolest area of the building and place the majority of your standing fans here.
Heat rises, so it’s best to avoid leaving pets or people in hot, upstairs areas. Make sure that your pets have full water bowls and a cool, comfortable place to relax.
Know When to Leave
When the outside temperature is 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, building interiors can quickly become uninhabitable. You should always know when to pack everyone up and exit the building. Even spending just three to five hours in sweltering conditions can spell disaster for the most vulnerable individuals in your household, including:
- Elderly adults
- Newborn babies
- People with compromised immunity
- Those living with chronic respiratory conditions or terminal illnesses
It’s much better to wait for your repair technician at a neighbor’s house or a nearby business. Public libraries, shopping malls, and movie theaters are all great locations for capitalizing on free air conditioning. You can ask your technician to give you a call or send a text alert several minutes before they arrive.
How to Shorten Your Wait for Urgent AC Repairs
One of the best ways to expedite peak summer AC repairs is by investing in a preventative maintenance plan. Not only do HVAC preventative maintenance plans provide covered, annual tune-up services for all heating and cooling equipment, but they also offer additional perks that consumers can enjoy year-round. For instance, our HVAC preventative maintenance plan includes:
- Priority scheduling for emergency repairs
- Discounts on replacement parts
- Discounts on AC and heat pump replacements
- No additional charges for after-hours service
With a preventative maintenance plan, you can get a qualified HVAC technician on the scene faster and save money on everything you need.
Get Ready for Your Technician
Our HVAC technicians arrive with fully stocked trucks. In some instances, they may need access to truck-mounted or heavy, cumbersome equipment. To make life easier for everyone involved, make sure that there’s nearby parking and create clear, obstacle-free paths to both indoor air handlers and outdoor condenser units. If you have toys, tools, or other items stored in your back or side yard where your condenser is mounted, move these things out of the way for easy access.
Tops to Prevent Summertime Cooling Emergencies in Gilbert
In Gilbert, AZ, the best way to deal with home cooling emergencies is to proactively prevent them. Scheduling pre-season AC tune-up service gives our team the chance to prime your cooling equipment for the challenges that lie ahead. More importantly, it also allows our technicians to spot and correct small problems before they lead to a complete cooling system shutdown. Identifying minor refrigerant leaks, blocked condensate drains, dirty coils, or airflow obstructions early on will save you money and stave off premature AC failure.
Another benefit of having your cooling equipment tuned up before the summer arrives is being able to assess its cumulative wear and remaining lifespan. If your cooling system is at or near the end of its service life, our team can help you shop for a replacement before outside temperatures soar.
Stay on Top of HVAC Air Filter Replacements
The most common cause of AC problems is dirty, clogged HVAC air filters. Although these components are both cheap and easy to acquire, many homeowners neglect to inspect and replace them. By inspecting your filter every 30 days and changing it every one to three months as needed, you can sidestep many stress-related AC repair issues altogether.
What to Do If Your AC Can’t Be Fixed
Getting a qualified HVAC technician on the scene is just one of several hurdles to clear. If your current problem is recurring, severe, or widespread, you may need a complete cooling system replacement. When air conditioners are 15 years old or older, replacement is often the most practical and cost-effective choice.
Finding out that you have a failed AC unit doesn’t have to render your home uninhabitable for weeks on end. We offer high-value promotions and affordable payment plans for qualified applicants through our third-party lending partner. Our options in financing can help you overcome the budgeting issues that sudden and unexpected AC failure often entails.
Homeowners in Gilbert, AZ can count on us for expert air conditioner installation, maintenance, and repair services. We also provide top-notch heating, ductwork, indoor air quality, and plumbing services. To find out about our HVAC preventative maintenance plans or schedule emergency AC repairs, get in touch with A/C & Plumbing Doctors now.
