Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of explanations why your AC equipment won’t run: a triggered circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
Your air conditioner won’t work when you have an overloaded breaker.
To check if one has blown, go to your residence’s main electrical panel. You can spot this silver fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Confirm your hands and feet are dry before you work on the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker labeled “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s overloaded, the switch will be in the "off" position.
- Quickly shift the lever back to the “on” location. If it immediately trips again, leave it alone and call us at 863-216-2923. A switch that keeps tripping could signal your home has an electrical issue.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t telling your system to run, it won’t switch on.
The key point is ensuring it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner may not switch on. You might also get hot air blowing from vents because the heater is running instead.
If you’re using a regular thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the readout is clear. If the readout is displaying jumbled letters, buy a new thermostat.
- Check the right setting is on the display. If you can’t alter it, cancel it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if the configuration is not right.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat is set the same as the house’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is adjusted accurately, you should begin getting chilled air promptly.
If you rely on a smart thermostat, such as one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If it still won’t work, reach us at 863-216-2923 for assistance.
Turn-Off Switch
Your cooling equipment probably has a power-cutting lever by its outside unit. This lever is typically in a metal box attached to your home. If your equipment has recently been maintained, the lever may have unintentionally been turned off.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans keep the surplus condensation your equipment takes out of the air. This pan can be positioned either below or in your furnace or air handler.
When there’s an obstruction or backed up drain, water can build up and prompt a safety control to stop your air conditioner.
If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the surplus water with a special pan-cleaning tab. You can buy these capsules at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan has a pump, locate the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you may need to install a new pump. Reach us at 863-216-2923 for assistance.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your equipment is running but not providing cold air, its airflow may be blocked. Or it might not have sufficient refrigerant.
Obstructed Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be decreased by a clogged air filter or dirty condenser.
How to Put in a New Your Air Filter
A dusty filter can create many problems, such as:
- Limited airflow
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Intermittent cooling
- Bigger utility bills
- Causing your system to wear out faster
We propose installing new flat filters every four weeks, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last replaced your filter, switch off your system fully and remove the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be situated in an adjoining 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 buy a new filter.
4 Steps to Cleaning Your Cooling Equipment
Brush, vegetation and bushes can obstruct your condensing unit. This could restrict its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your unit running well again.
- Turn off power fully at the breaker or outside switch.
- Get rid of plant rubbish around the air conditioner. Once you’ve removed larger refuse within a two-foot space, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to gingerly clean the condenser fins. Kinked fins can also hurt efficiency.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully clean the fins from inside the equipment. Make sure to avoid getting liquid on the fan motor.
- Turn on the power.
Low Refrigerant Levels
When cooling units don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your residence.
Here are a few symptoms that your equipment is seeping refrigerant:
- It takes too long to lower the temperature in your rooms and you’re continually lowering the thermostat.
- Air coming through the registers isn’t as chilly as it should be.
- You’re experiencing whistling or burbling noises when the AC runs.
- Your evaporator coil is icy on account of having an issue handling warmth.
Suspect your unit is seeping refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service professional to take care of the leak and replenish the proper amount of refrigerant in your system. Reach us at 863-216-2923 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not having adequate amounts of cool air, there’s usually an obstruction or detachment somewhere in your cooling unit.
- The first step is checking your air filter. Replace it if it’s filthy.
- Make sure the ductwork is open throughout your home.
- If you’re still not experiencing enough chilly air, you should have your duct system inspected by a specialist like Air Commander's Heating & Air Conditioning Co.. Your ducts might need to be serviced or rejoined in difficult locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.