Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be several reasons why your AC unit won’t work: an overloaded circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a switched off switch or a full condensate drain pan.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Your air conditioning won’t work when you have an overloaded breaker.
To see if one has blown, locate your home’s main electrical panel. You can find this metallic fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Make sure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you check the panel or breakers.
- Locate the breaker identified “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s tripped, the breaker will be in the "off" position.
- Firmly transfer the breaker back to the “on” location. If it instantly trips again, leave it alone and contact us at 877-389-2465. A breaker that keeps turning off may indicate your house has an electrical issue.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your system to run, it won’t activate.
The first step is ensuring it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning might not turn on. You could also receive heated air coming from vents since the furnace is going instead.
If you rely on a traditional thermostat:
- Swap out the batteries if the readout is blank. If the screen is displaying scrambled characters, get a new thermostat.
- Ensure the right option is showing. If you can’t update it, cancel it by dropping the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if the configuration is incorrect.
- Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat matches the space’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set accurately, you should start getting cool air fast.
If you have a smart thermostat, like one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you still can’t get it to work, reach us at 877-389-2465 for support.
Shut-Down Switch
Your cooling equipment probably has a shut-off lever by its outdoor unit. This switch is typically in a metal box mounted on your residence. If your AC has recently been fixed, the switch may have inadvertently been turned off.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans catch the additional water your system removes from the air. This pan can be found either under or in your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a clog or backed up drain, water can become concentrated and prompt a safety setting to turn off your air conditioner.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the extra condensation with a formulated pan-cleaning tablet. You can purchase these tablets at a home improvement or hardware shop.
If your pan includes a pump, look for the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you may need to get a new pump. Reach us at 877-389-2465 for assistance.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is running but not cooling, its airflow may be congested. Or it might not have sufficient refrigerant.
Obstructed Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be restricted by a plugged air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Change Your Air Filter
A dirty filter can lead to a lot of problems, like:
- Lower comfort
- Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Bigger electricity expenses
- Making your system wear out more quickly
We propose replacing flat filters monthly, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t recall when you last replaced your filter, shut off your AC totally and remove the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be found in an adjoining filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.
Hold the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see any light, you need to buy a new filter.
4 Steps to Cleaning Your AC Unit
Weeds, grass and sticks can get in the way of your condensing system. This can limit its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your system operating well again.
- Shut off power totally at the breaker or external switch.
- Get rid of plant waste around the unit. Once you’ve cleared larger refuse within a two-foot radius, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to carefully clean the unit’s fins. Bent fins can also impact effectiveness.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully remove gunk off the fins from inside the equipment. Make sure to avoid getting liquid on the fan motor.
- Restore the power.
Insufficient Refrigerant
When AC systems don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your residence.
Here are several signs that your equipment is seeping refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to refresh your rooms and you’re continually turning down the thermostat.
- Air blowing through the registers isn’t as cold as it should be.
- You’re hearing hissing or gurgling sounds when cooling is on.
- Your evaporator coil is icy as a result of having difficulty handling humidity.
Worried your system is leaking refrigerant? You need a qualified heating and cooling service expert to take care of the leak and refill the correct measurement of refrigerant in your unit. Reach us at 877-389-2465 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it feels like you’re not receiving adequate amounts of cool air, there’s possibly a clog or separation somewhere in your AC system.
- The first place is checking your air filter. Get a new one if it’s dirty.
- Make sure the vents are open throughout your house.
- If you’re still not receiving ample chilled air, you should have your duct system examined by a professional like Fleming Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. Your ductwork may need to be fixed or relinked in hard-to-reach spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.