Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Hodgenville, Kentucky, 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 Phelps Heating & Cooling, Inc..

Our experts are standing by at 270-358-3167 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 a few causes why your AC unit won’t work: a tripped circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a shut off switch or a full condensate drain pan.

Blown Circuit Breaker

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

To see if one has tripped, locate your home’s main electrical panel. You can locate this metallic fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

  • Ensure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you work on the panel or breakers.
  • Locate the breaker marked “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s tripped the lever will be in the middle or “off” spot.
  • Firmly transfer the switch back to the “on” spot. If it instantly trips again, don’t touch it and call us at 270-358-3167. A switch that keeps tripping could signal your residence has electrical trouble.

Wrong Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t signaling your AC to work, it won’t turn on.

The main step is ensuring it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning will probably not start running. Or you may have. hot air moving from vents because the furnace is running instead.

If you have a digital thermostat:

  • Replace the batteries if the readout is blank. If the monitor is presenting scrambled numbers, get a new thermostat.
  • Ensure the right mode is on the display. If you can’t update it, cancel it by decreasing the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if scheduling is wrong.
  • Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat matches the room’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is calibrated accurately, you should receive cool air fast.

If you rely on a smart thermostat, including ones manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you still can’t get it to work, call us at 270-358-3167 for help.

Shut-Down Switch

Your system usually has a shut-off device around its outdoor unit. This device is typically in a metal box hung on your residence. If your equipment has recently been repaired, the lever may have unintentionally been put in the “off” position.

Overflowing Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans hold the surplus water your equipment pulls from the air. This pan can be situated either under or within your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a blockage or backed up drain, water can accumulate and initiate a safety control to turn off your equipment.

If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the extra liquid with a formulated pan-cleaning tab. You can purchase these tabs at a home improvement or hardware store.

If your pan has a pump, locate the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you could need to get a new pump. Call us at 270-358-3167 for support.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your AC is going but not cooling, its airflow may be obstructed. Or it might not have adequate refrigerant.

Obstructed Airflow

Your unit’s airflow can be decreased by a plugged air filter or dirty condenser.

How to Change Your Air Filter

A dusty filter can lead to countless troubles, like:

  • Limited airflow
  • Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Intermittent cooling
  • Increased electricity bills
  • Causing your system to wear out sooner

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

If you can’t recall when you last changed yours, shut off your unit totally and take out the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be situated in an adjoining filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.

Angle the filter up to your light fixture. If you can’t see through it you certainly should buy a new filter.

4 Steps to Cleaning Your Cooling Unit

Weeds, grass and sticks can obstruct your condensing unit. This may reduce its airflow, make it less energy efficient and impact your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your unit working properly again.

  1. Turn off power fully at the breaker or outdoor switch.
  2. Get rid of yard debris around the equipment. Once you’ve gotten rid of larger debris within a two-foot range, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to slowly clean the equipment’s fins. Bent fins can also hurt capability, so you can attempt to reshape them with a blunt knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to carefully clean the fins from inside the system. Make sure to avoid getting water on the fan motor.
  4. Install the top again and turn the power back on.

Insufficient Refrigerant

When air conditioning units don’t have enough refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your residence.

Here are a few signs that your system is seeping refrigerant:

  1. It takes too long to refresh your rooms and you’re regularly turning down the thermostat.
  2. Air conditioning moving through the vents isn’t as cold as it should be.
  3. You’re hearing hissing or burbling racket when the air conditioning runs.
  4. Your evaporator coil is frosty due to having difficulty absorbing warmth.

Suspect your unit is losing refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service expert to repair the leak and refill the right measurement of refrigerant in your equipment. Contact us at 270-358-3167 for assistance.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it feels like you’re not having ample amounts of chilled air, there’s probably an obstruction or detachment within your air conditioning unit.

  • The beginning stage is checking your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s soiled.
  • Then make sure the registers are free across your residence.
  • If you’re still not getting adequate chilly air, you should have your ductwork inspected by a specialist like Phelps Heating & Cooling, Inc.. Your ductwork could need to be serviced or hooked up again in limited space locations 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 Phelps Heating & Cooling, Inc. at 270-358-3167. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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