As the temperatures rise, so do the number of calls for air conditioning repairs here in Pima County.
With rising temperatures, air conditioning units break down as they work harder to cool homes. More calls often for AC services usually means busy days for techs out on the job. "Our calls are simply just that systems aren't cooling and not taking care of families," said Arizona's Heating and Cooling Doctor technician, Reginald Phillips.
It's been a busy week for Phillips and his crews in Tucson. The calls are flooding in as people are suffering without AC.
According to Phillips, the company has received nearly 15 calls by early Tuesday afternoon, which is way above normal even for this time of year. More than half of those calls have been for repairs, he explained.
The most common problem he's found is with the capacitor, that can cause your ac unit to malfunction. "The capacitor pretty much starts the compressor on the unit and starts every motor on the unit," Phillips said. Although they are notorious for breaking down on hot days, it's something that can be avoided with proper maintenance. "We can check in the beginning of the season if the capacitor is on it's way out or not," he added.
Another tip to never forget is to pay attention to the air filters. Filters can cause the system to freeze up and kill the compressor because the system isn't working properly. "If you're not moving enough air, it will cause the system to freeze up," he explained. It sounds ironic, but it can certainly happen. Phillips recommends you change them at least once a month, and keep the outdoor filter clean too. If you don't have it chemically cleaned by a professional, at least clean it with a water hose. Most of this work should be done now to avoid your unit breaking in the middle of summer, he said.
Here are other tips:
1. Get preseason maintenance: Real maintenance should take between 30 and 50 minutes, and will most likely run you $75-100.
2. Wash your outdoor coil: This is something you can do yourself, without having to call a maintenance man over.
