Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a few reasons why your AC unit won’t start: a tripped circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a switched off switch or a full condensate drain pan.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
Your system won’t start when you have a tripped breaker.
To see if one has blown, go to your house’s main electrical panel. You can find this metallic box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you work on the panel or breakers.
- Locate the breaker marked “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s tripped, the breaker will be in the "off" position.
- Steadily shift the breaker back to the “on” position. If it instantaneously triggers again, leave it alone and get in touch with us at 641-316-9803. A fuse that keeps tripping may mean your residence has electrical trouble.
Inaccurate Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your equipment to start, it won’t turn on.
The main part is ensuring it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner may not turn on. You may also receive warm air moving from vents since the furnace is running instead.
If you’re using a traditional thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the monitor is clear. If the monitor is displaying jumbled letters, buy a new thermostat.
- Check the proper program is displaying. If you can’t update it, reverse it by lowering the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if the configuration is incorrect.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat is set the same as the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set accurately, you should begin getting cool air fast.
If you rely on a smart thermostat, such as one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If it still won’t work, call us at 641-316-9803 for support.
Turn-Off Switch
Your air conditioner usually has a shut-down device around its outdoor unit. This switch is generally in a metal box mounted on your home. If your equipment has recently been worked on, the lever may have unintentionally been turned off.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans hold the additional condensation your air conditioner pulls from the air. This pan can be situated either below or within your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a clog or clogged drain, water can become concentrated and initiate a safety setting to turn off your air conditioner.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the extra liquid with a special pan-cleaning capsule. You can purchase these tabs at a home improvement or hardware store.
If your pan has a pump, locate the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you might have to get a new pump. Contact us at 641-316-9803 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your air conditioner is going but not providing cold air, its airflow could be clogged. Or it could not have enough refrigerant.
Obstructed Airflow
Your system’s airflow can be decreased by a blocked air filter or dirty condenser.
How to Put in a New Your Air Filter
A dirty filter can cause numerous troubles, like:
- Limited comfort
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Increased utility bills
- Making your system break down faster
We suggest installing new flat filters every four weeks, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t recall when you last replaced your filter, shut off your AC fully and remove the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be located in a connected filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to your light fixture. If you see a lot of dust, you should get a new one.
4 Tips on Cleaning Your Cooling System
Brush, vegetation and bushes can get in the way of your condensing system. This can reduce its airflow, make it less energy efficient and affect your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your unit working well again.
- Turn off electricity totally at the breaker or outdoor device.
- Get rid of vegetation debris around the equipment. Once you’ve gotten rid of all the debris within a two-foot range, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to slowly clean the condenser fins. Warped fins can also hurt performance.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly take off dirt on the fins from inside the unit. Make sure to avoid getting liquid on the fan motor.
- Turn on the power.
Not Enough Refrigerant
When air conditioning equipment doesn’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll struggle to remove heat and humidity from your residence.
Here are several indications that your system is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to refresh your house and you’re regularly decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
- Air conditioning blowing through the vents isn’t as cold as it should be.
- You’re noticing fizzing or gurgling racket when cooling works.
- Your evaporator coil is frosted on account of having trouble absorbing humidity.
Worried your equipment is seeping refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service professional to fix the leak and restore the correct measurement of refrigerant in your unit. Contact us at 641-316-9803 for assistance.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it feels like you’re not getting ample amounts of cool air, there’s usually an obstruction or disconnection inside your AC unit.
- The initial step is examining your air filter. Get a new one if it’s soiled.
- Make sure the vents are open throughout your rooms.
- If you’re still not getting adequate chilled air, you should have your ducts inspected by a expert like Brookwood Inc. Your ducts might need to be repaired or hooked up again in limited space spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.