Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of reasons why your air conditioning system won’t cool: a tripped circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Blown Circuit Breaker
Your air conditioning won’t work when you have a tripped breaker.
To determine if one has tripped, locate your residence’s main electrical panel. You can locate this silver box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet are dry before you work on the panel or breakers.
- Locate the breaker labeled “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s triggered, the lever will be in the middle or “off” location.
- Steadily move the lever back to the “on” location. If it immediately flips again, leave it alone and contact us at 862-345-6896. A breaker that keeps turning off might mean your residence has an electrical issue.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t telling your system to work, it won’t switch on.
The first part is ensuring it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC may not switch on. Or you may have heated air blowing from vents because the heat is on instead.
If you rely on a digital thermostat:
- Swap out the batteries if the monitor is blank. If the screen is displaying garbled letters, get a new thermostat.
- Check the correct option is displaying. If you can’t alter it, override it by dropping the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if programming is not right.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat is set the same as the space’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is adjusted accurately, you should begin getting refreshing air fast.
If you have a smart thermostat, such as one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for help. If you still can’t get it to work, contact us at 862-345-6896 for help.
Turn-Off Switch
Your system typically has a shut-off device by its condenser. This lever is typically in a metal box mounted on your residence. If your unit has recently been fixed, the lever may have unintentionally been positioned in the “off” location.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans keep the extra condensation your system takes out of the air. This pan can be situated either below or inside your furnace or air handler.
When there’s an obstruction or clogged drain, water can accumulate and initiate a safety feature to turn off your unit.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the extra liquid with a formulated pan-cleaning tab. You can buy these tabs at a home improvement or hardware store.
If your pan involves a pump, find the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you might have to replace the pump. Call us at 862-345-6896 for support.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is running but not providing cold air, its airflow might be blocked. Or it could not have enough refrigerant.
Clogged Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be reduced by a plugged air filter or dirty condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A dirty filter can lead to countless issues, including:
- Limited comfort
- Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Inconsistent cooling
- Larger utility costs
- Leading your system to break down sooner
We suggest installing new flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.
If you aren’t sure when you last replaced yours, turn off your equipment completely and take out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be situated in an attached filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see through it, you need to replace it.
How to Clean Your AC Unit
Brush, plants and sticks can block your condensing equipment. This may restrict its airflow, make it less energy efficient and change your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your system working well again.
- Turn off the electrical current totally at the breaker or outdoor lever.
- Clear greenery rubbish around the AC. Once you’ve gotten rid of larger clutter within a two-foot space, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to carefully remove dust from the condenser fins. Crooked fins can also hurt efficiency, so you can attempt to reshape them with a small knife.
- Lift off the top of your AC and take out any leaves or grass clippings that has built up. Then wipe down the condenser fan with a wet cloth.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully take off dirt on the fins from inside the equipment. Make sure to avoid getting liquid on the fan motor.
- Install the top again and turn on the power.
Not Enough Refrigerant
When AC units don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your space.
Here are a few indications that your unit is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes too long to refresh your home and you’re constantly turning down the thermostat.
- Air moving through the registers isn’t as chilly as it should be.
- You’re experiencing whistling or gurgling sounds when the air conditioning is on.
- Your evaporator coil is icy as a result of having trouble taking on heat.
Think your unit is leaking refrigerant? You need a qualified heating and cooling service expert to take care of the leak and restore the right measurement of refrigerant in your equipment. Get in touch with us at 862-345-6896 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it seems like you’re not having ample amounts of cold air, there’s potentially a clog or detachment within your air conditioning system.
- The beginning stage is examining your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s filthy.
- Then make sure the ductwork is clear around your house.
- If you’re still not receiving adequate cold air, you should have your duct system inspected by a professional like Willco Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating Inc.. Your ductwork could need to be serviced or relinked in limited space locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.