Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of causes why your AC equipment won’t start: a tripped circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a shut off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Your air conditioner won’t work when you have an overloaded breaker.
To determine if one has blown, find your residence’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.
- Locate the breaker marked “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s overloaded, the switch will be in the middle or “off” location.
- Quickly shift the lever back to the “on” location. If it immediately trips again, don’t reset it and call us at 641-628-3621. A switch that keeps flipping may indicate your residence has an electrical issue.
Inaccurate Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your equipment to start, it won’t turn on.
The main step is checking it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC may not switch on. Or you may receive warm air moving from vents since the heat is running instead.
If you have a digital thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the screen is blank. If the monitor is showing jumbled numbers, replace the thermostat.
- Make sure the right setting is showing. If you can’t update it, cancel it by dropping the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if the configuration is not right.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees cooler than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat matches the house’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is calibrated correctly, you should start getting refreshing air promptly.
If you have a smart thermostat, like one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you still can’t get it to work, contact us at 641-628-3621 for support.
Shut-Down Switch
Your air conditioner usually has a shut-down switch around its outside unit. This device is generally in a metal box hung on your residence. If your air conditioner has recently been worked on, the lever may have inadvertently been placed in the “off” setting.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans catch the extra water your system takes out of the air. This pan can be situated either beneath or in your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a blockage or backed up drain, water can accumulate and prompt a safety feature to stop your equipment.
If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the extra condensation with a custom pan-cleaning tablet. You can buy these tablets at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan involves a pump, locate the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you could need to get a new pump. Reach us at 641-628-3621 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is going but not cooling, its airflow might be congested. Or it might not have adequate refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be restricted by a blocked air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Put in a New Your Air Filter
A dusty filter can lead to numerous issues, such as:
- Limited comfort
- Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Intermittent cooling
- Bigger electricity costs
- Causing your system to break down more quickly
We propose changing flat filters every four weeks, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last replaced yours, shut off your AC fully and remove the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be situated in a connected filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to the sunshine. If you see a lot of dust, you need to buy a new filter.
5 Steps to Cleaning Your Cooling Equipment
Brush, plants and shrubbery can obstruct your condensing unit. This may 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.
- Switch off electricity completely at the breaker or outdoor device.
- Clear greenery rubbish around the unit. Once you’ve cleared bigger clutter within a two-foot radius, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to slowly remove dirt from the condenser fins. Crooked fins can also affect effectiveness, so you can attempt to adjust them with a blunt knife.
- Take off the top of your unit and take out any leaves or grass clippings that has accumulated. Then wipe off the condenser fan with a moist scrap cloth.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly take off dirt on the fins from inside the unit. Don’t get liquid on the fan motor.
- Replace the top and restore the power.
Low Refrigerant Levels
When air conditioning equipment doesn’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your residence.
Here are a few signs that your system is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes a long time to refresh your space and you’re regularly lowering the thermostat.
- Air conditioning moving through the vents isn’t as chilled as it should be.
- You’re hearing whistling or burbling sounds when the air conditioning works.
- Your evaporator coil is frosted due to having trouble absorbing warmth.
Worried your equipment is seeping refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service professional to fix the leak and refill the correct measurement of refrigerant in your unit. Contact us at 641-628-3621 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not having ample amounts of chilled air, there’s usually a clog or detachment within your cooling system.
- The initial place is examining your air filter. Get a new one if it’s soiled.
- Then make sure the vents are open throughout your home.
- If you’re still not getting ample cold air, you should have your duct system inspected by a professional like Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating. Your ductwork might need to be fixed or relinked in tricky spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.