Your air conditioning system is likely something you don't spend a lot of time thinking about until something goes wrong. If you have noticed something is seriously amiss, getting professional help may be the best option. That said, not all air conditioning repair jobs require a contractor. Here are three common air conditioning problems that you may be able to tackle on your own.

Dripping Water

If your window unit is dripping water, there is likely an issue with the piping. Check the piping for the suspect and if you find one, it will need to be replaced. New piping can be purchased at any home improvement store and it's a relatively simple install process -- you simply make sure the air conditioner is turned off, remove the offending pipe and pop the new one in place. If this doesn't seem to fix the leak, get professional help, such as from Jackson Heating & Cooling.

Too Noisy

If your air conditioner sounds like a jet is landing in your living room, it's time to break out your screwdriver. The number one cause of an A/C unit making a rattling noise is loose screws. There could, however, also be some friction going on between various metal parts, but that's nothing a little lubricant can't fix. Check your air conditioning manual to make sure you use a recommended lubricant and don't put it anywhere it's not supposed to go.

Warm Air

Even if your air conditioner looks and sounds like it is running properly, that's not going to do you a bit of good if it is blowing out warm air. If the air is not cooling as it should be, there are several things you can try. Make sure the condenser unit is free of all debris for starters, as this can block the cool air from getting to where it needs to go. Then, turn your attention to the compressor, cleaning it and the fan. Finally, make sure you are replacing your air filter once a month. Some combination of the above tasks will hopefully get your A/C running cool again.

You don't have to be a professional contractor to be able to handle a basic air conditioning repair job. Oftentimes many problems can be fixed with just a good cleaning or the tightening of a screw here or there. If the above solutions do not fix your problem, contact a professional for help and consider scheduling regular maintenance check ups so that the issues do not return in the future.