Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be several reasons why your air conditioner won’t run: an overloaded circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a shut off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Blown Circuit Breaker
Your cooling won’t start when you have a tripped breaker.
To see if one has gotten overloaded, go to your house’s main electrical panel. You can spot this metallic device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you touch the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker marked “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s triggered, the lever will be in the "off" position.
- Steadily shift the switch back to the “on” spot. If it instantaneously flips again, don’t touch it and reach us at 239-214-0411. A switch that keeps flipping could indicate your house has electrical trouble.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your AC to run, it won’t activate.
The first part is making sure it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning might not start running. You might also get heated air moving from vents since the furnace is going instead.
If you have a digital thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the screen is blank. If the monitor is showing scrambled numbers, get a new thermostat.
- Make sure the correct mode is showing. If you can’t alter it, override it by dropping the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if the configuration is wrong.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees cooler than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat matches the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is calibrated correctly, you should start getting cool air quickly.
If you rely on a smart thermostat, such as one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If it still won’t work, contact us at 239-214-0411 for help.
Turn-Off Switch
Your AC probably has a shut-down lever by its outdoor unit. This lever is typically in a metal box mounted on your residence. If your equipment has recently been fixed, the lever may have inadvertently been turned off.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans keep the extra water your equipment takes out of the air. This pan is located either under or in your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a clog or backed up drain, water can become concentrated and initiate a safety feature to turn off your system.
If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the additional liquid with a special pan-cleaning capsule. You can get these capsules 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 liquid in the pan, you could need to get a new pump. Contact us at 239-214-0411 for assistance.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is working but not delivering cold air, its airflow might be obstructed. Or it might not have enough refrigerant.
Obstructed Airflow
Your unit’s airflow can be decreased by a plugged air filter or dirty condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A filthy filter can create numerous issues, like:
- Lower comfort
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Intermittent cooling
- Bigger utility bills
- Causing your system to wear out more quickly
We suggest installing new flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last replaced your filter, turn off your equipment completely and pull out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be found in an adjoining filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to the light. If you can’t see through it, you need to get a new one.
4 Tips on Cleaning Your AC System
Weeds, plants and sticks can obstruct your condensing unit. This could restrict its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your equipment operating well again.
- Turn off the electrical current fully at the breaker or outside switch.
- Clear yard rubbish around the unit. Once you’ve cleared all the clutter within a two-foot range, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to slowly remove dust from the unit’s fins. Misshapen fins can also impact capability.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly clean the fins from inside the system. Be careful to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
- Restore the power.
Not Enough Refrigerant
When AC equipment doesn’t have enough refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your house.
Here are a few signs that your system is seeping refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to lower the temperature in your space and you’re constantly decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
- Cooling blowing through the ducts isn’t as chilly as it should be.
- You’re noticing hissing or gurgling racket when cooling runs.
- Your evaporator coil is iced over as a result of having difficulty handling heat.
Think your unit is leaking refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service expert to take care of the leak and restore the right level of refrigerant in your system. Get in touch with us at 239-214-0411 for assistance.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it seems like you’re not getting ample amounts of cool air, there’s usually a blockage or disconnection inside your cooling system.
- The beginning stage is examining your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s filthy.
- Make sure the vents are open around your home.
- If you’re still not getting adequate cold air, you should have your ductwork checked by a specialist like Comfort Zone, LLC. Your ductwork may need to be serviced or rejoined in difficult areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.