Owning a home can be a very expensive endeavor. The best way to keep costs down is by trying to repair things around the house on your own before making a service call. Most repair services will charge you just to come out and evaluate your problem. Whether you have to have a fan belt replaced or you simply forgot to switch it to on, the cost is the same. Before you pick up the telephone to make a high-priced call, check for these most common air conditioning problems. Being able to troubleshoot on your own can save you a lot of money. Below are the five most common problems that will go wrong with your air conditioning.

Dirty coils

When you don't maintain your unit properly, it is common for the coils to become covered with dirt and dust. When that happens, it makes the system work harder and can lead to a breakdown. Check coils and see if there is build up before making a service call. Checking first is a good idea both when you are experiencing a problem and to prevent one.

Bad refrigerant levels

It is difficult to get the refrigerant level just right. It is possible to both overcharge it and to undercharge it. Both of those conditions will lead to failure of the system to operate. If you are low on refrigerant, then adding more will make it work. There are also cases when there is too much refrigerant. The manufacture carefully outlines the exact charge that an air conditioner needs. Follow the specs very carefully when adding charger to avoid problems.

Sensor issues

Inside the control panel of every air conditioner is a sensor. It is responsible for measuring the temperature of the air that enters into the evaporation coils. If the sensor is not working or gets slightly misplaced, the air conditioner will constantly run. Over time, that puts additional wear and tear on your unit and can lead to premature system failure.

Drainage problems

If you don't have the proper drainage attached to your unit, it is likely that the air conditioner will become clogged and will not work. This is a simple fix; all you need is to readjust it to allow it to drain effectively.

Electric control failure

If you have a unit that turns on and off frequently, it can lead to fan and compressor control issues. That happens most often when the system itself is oversized. Make sure that there isn't corrosion in the wires causing a poor connection. Poor connectivity can cause the unit not to power up at all.

There are many ways to diagnose what is wrong with the function of your air conditioner. When you know what it is wrong, you can make a better determination of whether you need to make a service call or not.