Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a few reasons why your AC equipment won’t run: a triggered circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
Your system won’t start when you have a blown breaker.
To check if one has tripped, locate your house’s main electrical panel. You can spot this silver 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.
- Find the breaker marked “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” position. If it’s overloaded, the breaker will be in the "off" position.
- Steadily shift the breaker back to the “on” location. If it immediately triggers again, don’t reset it and reach us at 270-358-3167. A switch that keeps flipping may indicate your residence has electrical trouble.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your equipment to run, it won’t turn on.
The most important step is making sure it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC will probably not turn on. You could also have heated air coming from vents being the heat is going instead.
If you rely on a digital thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the monitor is blank. If the screen is presenting scrambled characters, get a new thermostat.
- Check the right program is on the display. If you can’t alter it, cancel it by lowering the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if programming is not right.
- Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees cooler than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat matches the house’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set accurately, you should begin getting refreshing air fast.
If you have a smart thermostat, like one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for help. If it still won’t work, contact us at 270-358-3167 for assistance.
Shut-Off Switch
Your air conditioner probably has a shut-off switch by its outdoor unit. This device is typically in a metal box mounted on your house. If your air conditioner has recently been worked on, the device may have unintentionally been turned off.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans keep the additional condensation your equipment pulls from the air. This pan is located either below or in your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a blockage or clogged drain, water can build up and prompt a safety feature to turn off your air conditioner.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the extra liquid with a custom pan-cleaning tablet. You can get these tabs at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan includes a pump, find the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you may need to install a new pump. Call us at 270-358-3167 for support.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your air conditioner is going but not cooling, its airflow might be obstructed. Or it might not have sufficient refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your system’s airflow can be limited by a plugged air filter or filthy condenser.
How to Put in a New Your Air Filter
A dusty filter can cause a lot of issues, like:
- Reduced airflow
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Inconsistent cooling
- Higher energy expenses
- Causing your system to stop working sooner
We propose replacing flat filters monthly, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last replaced your filter, turn off your system fully and pull out the filter. You can locate 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 the sunshine. If you can’t see through it, you certainly should replace it.
How to Clean Your AC Unit
Weeds, vegetation and leaves can get in the way of your condensing equipment. This can restrict its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your unit working smoothly again.
- Shut off the electrical current completely at the breaker or outdoor lever.
- Remove greenery waste around the air conditioner. Once you’ve removed bigger clutter within a two-foot range, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to carefully remove dirt from the condenser fins. Distorted fins can also hurt efficiency.
- Use a hose nozzle to gingerly take off dirt on the fins from inside the system. Don’t get water on the fan motor.
- Restore the power.
Leaking Refrigerant
When AC equipment doesn’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from the air.
Here are a couple of indications that your unit is seeping refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to lower the temperature in your house and you’re continually lowering the thermostat.
- Cooling coming through the ducts isn’t as cold as it should be.
- You’re hearing whistling or gurgling noises when the AC is on.
- Your evaporator coil is iced over because it’s having difficulty absorbing heat.
Think your unit is seeping refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service expert to take care of the leak and refill the correct amount of refrigerant in your unit. Get in touch with us at 270-358-3167 for assistance.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it seems like you’re not having enough cold air, there’s potentially an obstruction or disconnection somewhere in your AC equipment.
- The initial place is checking your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s dusty.
- Make sure the vents are open throughout your residence.
- If you’re still not experiencing sufficient chilled air, you should have your ductwork checked by a professional like Phelps Heating & Cooling. Your ductwork could need to be fixed or rejoined in limited space spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.