(NAPSI)—Before you turn on your air-conditioning system, you may need to perform a few simple maintenance tasks to ensure it runs efficiently—things such as changing filters, tightening loose screws and clearing away obstructions from vents. Systems that fail to turn on or present challenges beyond your expertise require the skills of a trained technician. This is especially true if your cooling system exhibits any of the following signs:

1. Takes a long time to turn on. A slow start could indicate low coolant levels or rusted pipes.

2. Blows warm air. Check that your thermostat is set to the cooling mode and be certain dirty filters are not blocking airflow. If warm air continues to blow, you may have a malfunctioning compressor.

3. Excessive cycling. A malfunctioning thermostat or a leak could cause your air-conditioning unit to cycle on and off more than it should, causing unnecessary wear on your unit.

4. Intermittent cycling. Your air conditioner should cycle on and off as temperatures inside your home increase and rise above your thermostat setting. If it doesn’t, your system may need repair.

5. Unusual sounds. Most home comfort systems today are quiet. Loud noises when the system cycles on and off or operation that gets louder and louder is not normal.

6. Unusual smells. Air-conditioning systems should not give off a burning smell or any other odor.

7. Unexplained increase in billing. Call a service technician if your gas or electric bill is suddenly higher than past bills and you haven’t made changes in your lifestyle that would explain the increase.

8. Inconsistent cooling. If you normally experience even cooling throughout your home and you suddenly have warm and cool spots.

9. Weak airflow. Make sure your filters are clean and there are no obstructions in the vents or outside unit.

10. Pools of water. A broken condenser pump can cause water to leak under your system’s outdoor unit. The leak might also be the result of an improper installation.

To make the diagnostic process easier, there’s a new touch-screen thermostat from the YORK brand of Johnson Controls that provides real-time notifications and alerts to you and to your heating and cooling service provider. It can also help you know when to call a technician. The thermostat, which features an easy-to-read, easy-to-program, patent-pending hexagon interface, seamlessly connects to your home comfort system at home or away via your smartphone, tablet or computer.

To learn more, visit www.YORK.com, follow the company on YouTube and @YORKHVAC on Twitter or call (877) 874-7378.

Enter to win a YORK thermostat. To celebrate the launch of the new thermostat, Johnson Controls is offering a chance to win one of five new YORK touch-screen thermostats along with a $150 Visa gift card for installation. One of 10 YORK-branded portable cell phone battery chargers will also be awarded each week until the promotion ends on June 20. Interested participants are asked to post a photo of themselves with a YORK logo on either the @johnsoncontrols or the @YORKHVAC Twitter pages, using the hashtag #MeAndMyYORK. For complete contest details and official rules, visit www.YORK.com/MeAndMyYORK.

On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.(NAPSI)