What to Expect During an AC Repair Appointment

June 25, 2016

So, all of a sudden your air conditioning system needs repair at your Edmonton home and you don’t know what that entails. It’s daunting enough to allow an AC repairman into your home, but then to not know what exactly they’re going to do could add even more unnecessary stress. But fear not! McKinley Heating Service Experts is here to fill you in on the basic AC repair process so you can be ready when an expert air conditioning service technician needs to visit your home.

AC Repair Starts Simple

When the technician arrives, the first thing they should do is ask to see the thermostat. It might sound silly, but they need to inspect it to make sure that it’s not just a thermostat settings error. The service tech will check that the thermostat is switched to cool and then decrease the temperature to see if that will start up the air conditioning system. A flawed or improperly connected wire could be the culprit that’s keeping you from a comfortable home.

If there is still an issue, the technician may request to see your circuit breaker box. They may switch the circuit switches to off and then back to on to see if that activates the AC.

Getting to the nitty-gritty of AC Repair

The service tech will then most likely ask to see the air conditioner. Same as a doctor, the repairman will commence their trial and error diagnosis process. There are many factors that could be the culprit of an air conditioning system that isn’t running properly, and it’s up the technician to evaluate all the possible causes starting from the most frequent issues to the least. The diagnostic process could take anywhere from five minutes to sixty, and sometimes longer.

During the air conditioning diagnosis, they will likely check the air filter to confirm it’s not obstructed or in need of replacing. They will examine the A/C system’s refrigerant levels, make sure the air condenser fan is turning properly, verify that the size of your air conditioner is correct for the size of your house, and check the electronics, safety controls, and wiring.

Have answers, will fix

Once the air conditioner repairman has identified the issue, he or she should explain all your options to you. The conversation will usually start with the service tech explaining what the issue is, what part (if any) went out, how or why it died, and what that part does for your air conditioning system.

The repairman will then go into your courses of action, which will involve swapping out the part and correcting the problem, but could also entail upgrading parts of the A/C, the air conditioner itself, or your complete HVAC system. In particular cases, it may make more sense to buy a complete new heating and cooling system, particularly if the A/C system is past its prime, or susceptible to breaking down again and end up causing you to spend more on A/C system repairs in the long run. The technician will discuss how much time, effort, and cost it will take to resolve the issue.

The technician might at this point explain what could have been done to prevent the issue or part failure and how to avoid a future issue. This usually includes yearly maintenance, which not only helps prevent an A/C system breakdown, but in most cases also keeps your air conditioner’s warranty valid. Most expert air conditioner repair companies will offer a yearly maintenance plan so you don’t have to worry about making future HVAC tune-up appointments for your HVAC equipment.

Lastly, they will discuss the process for repairing the failed part or resolving the issue. If you determine that A/C system repair is better for you than buying an upgraded A/C system, the service tech will order any parts needed and set up your next appointment to fix your air conditioner. Or, if the part needed is already handy on their truck, they will begin the air conditioner repair work with your approval.

Keep in mind that throughout Edmonton your system is in good hands with McKinley Heating Service Experts. Our technicians are ACE-certified and have received extensive background checks so you can feel confident with the technicians we send into your home. If you ever think of any questions about your air conditioning system or what to expect with your AC repair, give us a call around the clock at 780-800-7092 and we’ll be happy to walk you through the process.

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