There's no worse time for your air conditioner to break down than the middle of summer. If it's hot, and your ac stops working, you don't need to call a repairman right away. Try some of these ac repair tips first:

1. Check the power

Often, the simplest explanation for a broken air conditioner is a lack of power. The first thing you need to do is check your circuit breaker. Make sure the fuse for your ac didn't blow out. Then, flip the switch for your ac off and on to reset the circuit. If this doesn't work, go to your ac unit and switch the power off and on.

2. Reset your thermostat

Your thermostat controls the entire air conditioning system. When the thermostat acts up, your ac doesn't work. There are a few simple, quick tasks you can do to reset your thermostat and get your ac working again. Try one of these before you call a technician for air conditioning repair:

• Check the thermostat settings. Is the thermostat off or set to power saving mode? Is the thermostat on fan only?
• Turn your thermostat down. If it's set too high, your ac won't come on.
• Change the batteries in your thermostat. Some thermostats won't work if the batteries die.
• Turn it off and back on.

3. Make sure there's enough airflow

Make sure your air conditioning system has enough airflow. Your ac may work perfectly, but it won't work if air can't circulate. First, change the filter on your air conditioner. If this doesn't work, inspect the outdoor unit. It needs at least two feet of clearance on all sides for proper airflow. Finally, make sure all vents and registers are wide open.

4. Clean the ac unit

If you can't remember the last time you had any air conditioning services from a technician, a thorough cleaning can get your ac working again. If your unit is too dirty or clogged, it won't function. Here is a handy checklist:

• Go to the outdoor unit and remove the fan and cage. Use a shop vac to suck up leaves, dirt, and debris.
• Use your hose or an ac fin cleaner to clean the fins on the outdoor unit.
• Remove leaves and debris from around the unit.
• Clean the coils on the indoor unit.
• Use a shop vac to clean the evaporator drain.

These are four quick, simple, and cheap ways to do your own air conditioning repair. If these fixes don't work, contact an ac repairman or a company like North Georgia Equipment Heating and Air today.