The central air conditioner is an important part of your house and your life. Without comfortable air sweeping through your home, you would feel very uncomfortable indeed!

Occasionally though, the air conditioner will fail to work as well as it should, or stop working completely. Before you call up the experts or hire an air-conditioning professionals , there are some DIY repairs that you can do. Let’s take a look at some of the common problems with central air conditioning systems and how you can conduct basic repairs.

Central AC Problems

With a central air conditioner, the common issues can be grouped into the following categories:

• Stopped Working – This is when the central air conditioner is simply not working at all.
• Poor Cooling/Heating – The system is working but the air coming out of it is either too cold or too warm.
• Errant Temperatures – The temperature of air coming out of the system keeps fluctuating wildly.
• Water Leakage – There is water dripping through the house (the ductwork) or near the unit itself.
• Odd Noises – The central air conditioner is not exactly quiet or smooth, and filled with annoying noises.

Let’s understand how to deal with each issue, one by one: 

Stopped Working

In this case, the conditioner has just stopped working, like a dead television set. Try the following steps:

• Check the mains as well as secondary circuit panels. If there is a trip, set it back right. If the fuse has blown, replace it. 
• Check the furnace and compressor power supply. Are they both turned on? If not, turn them back on. If the connections have snapped, like a broken plug, replace them.
• Check the thermostat. Before you do this, disconnect the power supply, and then remove the covering panel. Unscrew the wires from the Y terminal, turn the power back on and then (while holding only their insulation), connect them to the R terminal and hold in place for 2 minutes. If the thermostat is working correctly, then the compressor will start working in a couple of minutes. If the compressor does not come on, then you should replace the thermostat.

Poor Cooling/Heating

Here, the cooling or heating just isn’t happening the way it should, for one of these two reasons:

• The air flow is probably uneven. Clean the ducts throughout the house to ensure there is no dust or debris stuck in them.
• The coolants have run out of juice. Get them recharged by a professional and remember, this is not a DIY task!

Errant Temperatures

If you notice wild swings in the way the temperature is in the house, you have a blower that is not working properly. Usually, it comes down to a faulty belt, so:

• Switch off power to the entire heating system. If there is a gas connection, disconnect it.
• Access the blower by removing the cabinet it is housed in. 
• Locate the identifier number of the belt, and buy a belt with the same number.
• While replacing, start off with the smaller gear on the motor pulley. Then, slowly move the belt over the larger gear on the blower. Be careful, and after a couple of tries, your new belt should be in place.
• Check if the fans and the motors powering them need some lubrication. If so, use motor oil. 

Water Leakage

The air conditioning system has a drain tube that will collect water from the duct system. Sometimes, this tube will have problems and water will start leaking. You should:

• Start with the condensation tube. If it is the tube leaking, get a new one and replace it. Ensure that you use exactly the same sized tube.
• Check the condensate pump, and see if it is connected to a receptacle that is functioning as expected. Inside the pump, you will find a ball that is supposed to float. Pour water into the pump and see if the ball reacts. If it is not, the ball is faulty. Replace it. 
• If the ball is replaced but still there is not motion, then the mechanism that controls the ball is stuck. Check for (and remove) any obstructions. If there are no obstructions, then replace the ball moving mechanism entirely.

Odd Noises

Common sources of noises are the many motors that are part of the system. Replace the belt connected to the motors, and if the noise continues, the motor itself might need servicing or replacement. The ducts can also cause a noise if they are not held together in place on the walls. Check for any ducts out of place and lock them back in with a screw or adhesive.

If you face any trouble with any of these steps, it’s best to hire an air-conditioning pro, rather than taking a chance that your DIY repair attempts might cause further damage!