Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Carpentersville, Illinois, can appear like a lot of hassle.

There’s a better way. There are several quick remedies you can attempt by yourself that might help you get out of an AC service call.

When you’re having air conditioning issues, try this checklist before calling a heating and cooling repair professional like Controlled Comfort HVAC.

Our experts are standing by at 224-412-8308 when you need expert service. We have emergency AC repair and work on most brands of central AC equipment.

If you want to get an up to date air conditioner, we also provide AC installation.

When you’re in contact with us, contemplate a yearly AC maintenance plan that may help you keep clear of future malfunctions. We can advise how often you need air conditioner service.

Ready to get started troubleshooting your system? Try our fast tips below. Many of these procedures don’t require any HVAC knowledge.

Air Conditioner Repair Checklist

1. AC Won’t Turn On

There can be several reasons why your AC unit won’t cool: a tripped circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a turned off switch or a full condensate drain pan.

Triggered Circuit Breaker

Your air conditioning won’t start when you have an overloaded breaker.

To see if one has gotten overloaded, locate your residence’s main electrical panel. You can locate this gray box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

  • Ensure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you touch the panel or breakers.
  • Locate the breaker labeled “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s triggered the lever will be in the in between or “off” position.
  • Firmly shift the switch back to the “on” spot. If it immediately flips again, don’t touch it and get in touch with us at 224-412-8308. A fuse that keeps tripping could indicate your home has an electrical problem.

Inaccurate Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t telling your system to work, it won’t switch on.

The key part is making sure it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner may not turn on. Or you could receive. heated air blowing from vents since the heater is going instead.

If you rely on a regular thermostat:

  • Swap out the batteries if the screen is blank. If the screen is displaying garbled numbers, replace the thermostat.
  • Make sure the proper setting is showing. If you can’t update it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if scheduling is wrong.
  • Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is identical to the house’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is calibrated properly, you should begin getting cool air quickly.

If you’re using a smart thermostat, including ones produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If it still won’t work, contact us at 224-412-8308 for assistance.

Shut-Off Switch

Your AC probably has a shut-off lever near its outdoor unit. This switch is generally in a metal box hung on your residence. If your equipment has recently been worked on, the switch may have accidentally been left in the “off” location.

Clogged Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans catch the extra liquid your equipment pulls from the air. This pan is located either below or within your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a blockage or backed up drain, water can become concentrated and prompt a safety setting to stop your system.

If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the extra condensation with a special pan-cleaning tab. You can get these tablets at a home improvement or hardware shop.

If your pan has a pump, look for the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you could need to replace the pump. Call us at 224-412-8308 for assistance.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your air conditioner is working but not cooling, its airflow may be obstructed. Or it could not have enough refrigerant.

Clogged Airflow

Your system’s airflow can be limited by a blocked air filter or dirty condenser.

How to Replace Your Air Filter

A dusty filter can lead to numerous troubles, including:

  • Reduced cooling
  • Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Uneven cooling
  • Larger electricity bills
  • Leading your system to wear out sooner

We suggest changing flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.

If you can’t remember when you last replaced yours, shut off your AC totally and take out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be located in a connected filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.

Tilt the filter up to your light fixture. If you can’t see any light you certainly should buy a new filter.

4 Tips on Cleaning Your Air Conditioning System

Weeds, plants and leaves can obstruct your condensing unit. This could reduce its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s how you can get your system running smoothly again.

  1. Shut off electricity fully at the breaker or outdoor switch.
  2. Clear vegetation debris around the AC. Once you’ve removed bigger clutter within a two-foot area, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to slowly clean the condenser fins. Misshapen fins can also affect effectiveness, so you can attempt to straighten them with a blunt knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to gingerly take off dirt on the fins from inside the equipment. Make sure to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
  4. Replace the top and turn on the power.

Leaking Refrigerant

When AC units don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your home.

Here are several signs that your system is seeping refrigerant:

  1. It takes too long to refresh your space and you’re constantly lowering the thermostat.
  2. Air blowing through the vents isn’t as cold as it should be.
  3. You’re hearing fizzing or bubbling racket when cooling runs.
  4. Your evaporator coil is iced over because it’s having an issue taking on heat.

Think your equipment is losing refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service expert to fix the leak and restore the right measurement of refrigerant in your system. Get in touch with us at 224-412-8308 for help.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it feels like you’re not receiving enough chilled air, there’s likely an obstruction or separation somewhere in your air conditioning equipment.

  • The first stage is examining your air filter. Get a new one if it’s dusty.
  • Then make sure the ductwork is open across your residence.
  • If you’re still not receiving ample cold air, you should have your ductwork checked by a professional like Controlled Comfort HVAC. Your duct system might need to be serviced or relinked in hard-to-reach areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.

Request Pro Air Conditioner Repair Now

When you require air conditioning service quickly, contact the HVAC repair experts at Controlled Comfort HVAC at 224-412-8308. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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