Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be several explanations why your central AC system won’t work: a tripped circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a shut off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Your air conditioning won’t run when you have a tripped breaker.
To find out if one has blown, locate your residence’s main electrical panel. You can locate this silver box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet are dry before you work on the panel or breakers.
- Locate the breaker identified “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s triggered, the switch will be in the middle of the panel or “off” spot.
- Firmly transfer the breaker back to the “on” spot. If it instantly flips again, don’t reset it and contact us at 727-369-6195. A breaker that keeps flipping could indicate your house has an electrical problem.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your equipment to work, it won’t activate.
The key step is making sure it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner might not start running. Or you might have hot air blowing from vents being the heater is running instead.
If you have a digital thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the readout is empty. If the monitor is presenting scrambled numbers, replace the thermostat.
- Make sure the proper setting is on the display. If you can’t change it, cancel it by decreasing the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if scheduling is wrong.
- Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat matches the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set properly, you should receive cold air quickly.
If you rely on a smart thermostat, like one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you’re still having problems, reach us at 727-369-6195 for support.
Shut-Off Switch
Your system probably has a power-cutting lever by its outdoor unit. This device is typically in a metal box hung on your house. If your AC has recently been serviced, the switch may have accidentally been positioned in the “off” location.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans hold the additional water your system takes out of the air. This pan is located either under or in your furnace or air handler.
When there’s an obstruction or blocked drain, water can accumulate and prompt a safety setting to stop your equipment.
If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the extra liquid with a custom pan-cleaning tab. You can buy these capsules at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan has a pump, locate the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you might have to replace the pump. Reach us at 727-369-6195 for assistance.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your equipment is running but not providing cold air, its airflow may be blocked. Or it may not have adequate refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your system’s airflow can be decreased by a plugged air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Change Your Air Filter
A dusty filter can create a lot of issues, such as:
- Reduced comfort
- Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Intermittent cooling
- Increased cooling expenses
- Making your system break down more quickly
We recommend installing new flat filters every four weeks, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t recall when you last replaced yours, turn off your unit fully and remove the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be situated in an attached filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.
Hold the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see any light, you should buy a new filter.
5 Steps to Cleaning Your AC System
Weeds, vegetation and bushes can block your condensing unit. This may reduce its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your system operating well again.
- Turn off electricity completely at the breaker or outdoor device.
- Clear plant rubbish around the unit. Once you’ve gotten rid of bigger debris within a two-foot space, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to slowly remove dust from the condenser fins. Distorted fins can also hurt capability, so you can attempt to reshape them with a blunt knife.
- Lift off the top of your AC and pull out any leaves or grass clippings that has collected. Then wipe off the condenser fan with a moist scrap cloth.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully remove gunk off the fins from inside the system. Don’t get water on the fan motor.
- Install the top again and turn the power back on.
Low Refrigerant Levels
When air conditioning equipment doesn’t have enough refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your home.
Here are a couple of signs that your equipment is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to cool your rooms and you’re continually decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
- Cooling blowing through the ducts isn’t as chilly as it should be.
- You’re experiencing hissing or burbling noises when cooling works.
- Your evaporator coil is frosty as a result of having trouble absorbing heat.
Think your unit is leaking refrigerant? You need a qualified heating and cooling service professional to fix the leak and restore the proper level of refrigerant in your system. Reach us at 727-369-6195 for support.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not receiving adequate amounts of cool air, there’s probably an obstruction or separation inside your cooling unit.
- The first place is checking your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s soiled.
- Then check the ductwork is open across your house.
- If you’re still not receiving sufficient cold air, you should have your duct system checked by a specialist like Hale's Air Conditioning Services Inc. Your duct system could need to be repaired or reconnected in hard-to-reach locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.