Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Newton, Iowa, 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 Brookwood Inc.

Our experts are standing by at 641-316-9803 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 couple of reasons why your AC equipment won’t work: an overloaded circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a shut off switch or a full condensate drain pan.

Triggered Circuit Breaker

Your AC won’t run when you have a blown breaker.

To determine if one has tripped, go to your house’s main electrical panel. You can locate this metallic box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

  • Make sure your hands and feet are dry before you check the panel or breakers.
  • Locate the breaker identified “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s tripped the lever will be in the middle of the panel or “off” position.
  • Firmly move the breaker back to the “on” position. If it instantaneously trips again, don’t touch it and reach us at 641-316-9803. A switch that keeps flipping might signal your house has an electrical problem.

Wrong Thermostat Settings

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

The first part is ensuring it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner may not switch on. Or you might have. hot air coming from vents being the heat is running instead.

If you rely on a digital thermostat:

  • Replace the batteries if the screen is blank. If the readout is presenting jumbled characters, get a new thermostat.
  • Ensure the proper program is on the display. If you can’t change it, override it by dropping the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if scheduling is wrong.
  • Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat matches the house’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is adjusted accurately, you should begin getting cold air fast.

If you’re using a smart thermostat, such as one produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you’re still having problems, reach us at 641-316-9803 for assistance.

Shut-Down Switch

Your cooling equipment typically has a shut-off switch by its outdoor unit. This switch is typically in a metal box hung on your residence. If your unit has recently been serviced, the device may have accidentally been put in the “off” location.

Overflowing Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans catch the extra condensation your equipment takes out of the air. This pan can be positioned either beneath or within your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a clog or backed up drain, water can accumulate and prompt a safety control to switch off your air conditioner.

If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the extra water with a special pan-cleaning capsule. You can get these tablets at a home improvement or hardware shop.

If your pan involves 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 641-316-9803 for support.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

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

Blocked Airflow

Your equipment’s airflow can be limited by a blocked air filter or dusty condenser.

How to Change Your Air Filter

A dirty filter can cause a lot of issues, such as:

  • Lower comfort
  • Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Inconsistent cooling
  • Larger electricity expenses
  • Leading your system to stop working faster

We recommend replacing flat filters every four weeks, and accordion filters every three months.

If you can’t recall when you last changed yours, shut off your system fully and remove the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be situated in a connected filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.

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

4 Tips on Cleaning Your AC Equipment

Brush, plants and sticks can block your condensing system. This may restrict its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your system operating properly again.

  1. Turn off electricity completely at the breaker or outdoor lever.
  2. Clear greenery debris around the AC. Once you’ve gotten rid of bigger debris within a two-foot range, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to slowly remove dirt from the equipment’s fins. Misshapen fins can also impact effectiveness, so you can attempt to correct them with a blunt knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to slowly take off dirt on the fins from inside the unit. Be careful to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
  4. Replace the top and restore the power.

Low Refrigerant Levels

When air conditioning equipment doesn’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll struggle to remove heat and humidity from your home.

Here are several symptoms that your unit is losing refrigerant:

  1. It takes too long to refresh your home and you’re constantly decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
  2. Air coming through the ducts isn’t as chilled as it should be.
  3. You’re hearing whistling or gurgling noises when the air conditioning works.
  4. Your evaporator coil is icy on account of having trouble handling heat.

Think your unit is seeping refrigerant? You need a qualified heating and cooling service professional to repair the leak and refill the proper amount of refrigerant in your equipment. Get in touch with us at 641-316-9803 for assistance.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it appears like you’re not getting enough cold air, there’s usually a clog or detachment somewhere in your AC equipment.

  • The beginning stage is examining your air filter. Replace it if it’s soiled.
  • Then make sure the vents are open throughout your home.
  • If you’re still not experiencing sufficient chilly air, you should have your ductwork examined by a specialist like Brookwood Inc. Your ductwork could need to be fixed or rejoined in limited space 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 Brookwood Inc at 641-316-9803. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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