Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of reasons why your air conditioning won’t work: a blown circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Your AC won’t start when you have a blown breaker.
To check if one has blown, locate your house’s main electrical panel. You can find this gray device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Make sure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you touch the panel or breakers.
- Locate the breaker identified “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s tripped, the switch will be in the middle of the panel or “off” spot.
- Quickly shift the breaker back to the “on” location. If it instantaneously triggers again, leave it alone and reach us at 224-412-8308. A fuse that keeps tripping may mean your home has electrical trouble.
Inaccurate Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your AC to work, it won’t activate.
The key point is making sure it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner might not start running. Or you may have heated air moving from vents since the heater is going instead.
If you have a traditional thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the monitor is empty. If the monitor is presenting garbled characters, replace the thermostat.
- Ensure the proper mode is on the display. If you can’t update it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if programming is wrong.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat matches the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is calibrated properly, you should receive cold air promptly.
If you have a smart thermostat, like one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you still can’t get it to work, reach us at 224-412-8308 for support.
Shut-Off Switch
Your air conditioner typically has a shut-down device around its outside unit. This switch is generally in a metal box hung on your home. If your equipment has recently been fixed, the device may have unintentionally been put in the “off” setting.
Blocked Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans catch the surplus water your system pulls from the air. This pan can be positioned either beneath or within your furnace or air handler.
When there’s an obstruction or backed up drain, water can build up and prompt a safety setting to stop your air conditioner.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the surplus liquid with a special pan-cleaning tablet. You can purchase these capsules at a home improvement or hardware store.
If your pan has a pump, find the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you might have to replace the pump. Reach us at 224-412-8308 for assistance.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is going but not providing cold air, its airflow could be congested. Or it could not have adequate refrigerant.
Clogged Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be limited by a blocked air filter or filthy condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A filthy filter can lead to many troubles, such as:
- Limited comfort
- Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Higher electricity costs
- Making your system break down sooner
We propose replacing flat filters monthly, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t recall when you last changed yours, switch off your equipment fully and take out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be located in an adjoining filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
Hold the filter up to the light. If you can’t see any light, you should replace it.
How to Clean Your AC Unit
Weeds, plants and bushes can block your condensing system. This can reduce its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s how you can get your equipment working well again.
- Switch off power fully at the breaker or outdoor device.
- Clear greenery debris around the unit. Once you’ve cleared larger debris within a two-foot radius, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dust from the equipment’s fins. Crooked fins can also impact performance, so you can attempt to straighten them with a dinner knife.
- Take off the upper part of your air conditioner and take out any leaves or yard waste that has collected. Then wipe off the condenser fan with a damp rag.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly remove gunk off the fins from inside the unit. Make sure to avoid getting liquid on the fan motor.
- Install the top again and turn on the power.
Leaking Refrigerant
When AC systems don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your rooms.
Here are several flags that your unit is losing refrigerant:
- It takes a long time to cool your home and you’re constantly lowering the thermostat.
- Cooling coming through the vents isn’t as cold as it should be.
- You’re noticing hissing or burbling racket when the air conditioning works.
- Your evaporator coil is icy as a result of having trouble handling heat.
Worried your system is leaking refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service professional to take care of the leak and replenish the correct measurement of refrigerant in your unit. Contact us at 224-412-8308 for assistance.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not having enough cool air, there’s usually a blockage or separation somewhere in your cooling system.
- The initial stage is checking your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s dirty.
- Then make sure the ductwork is free across your residence.
- If you’re still not experiencing adequate cold air, you should have your ductwork checked by a expert like Controlled Comfort HVAC Inc. Your ductwork may need to be repaired or hooked up again in limited space areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.