Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a few explanations why your AC equipment won’t work: a blown circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Blown Circuit Breaker
Your cooling won’t turn on when you have a blown breaker.
To determine if one has tripped, go to your home’s main electrical panel. You can find this gray box 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 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” position.
- Firmly shift the breaker back to the “on” spot. If it instantaneously flips again, don’t reset it and contact us at 763-276-0617. A fuse that keeps turning off may indicate your home has electrical trouble.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t telling your system to run, it won’t turn on.
The first part is making sure it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC will probably not switch on. Or you could get warm air blowing from vents since the heat is on instead.
If you rely on a traditional thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the readout is blank. If the readout is displaying scrambled letters, buy a new thermostat.
- Make sure the correct mode is showing. If you can’t update it, cancel it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if scheduling is wrong.
- Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat matches the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is calibrated correctly, you should begin getting cool air promptly.
If you have a smart thermostat, such as one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you’re still having problems, reach us at 763-276-0617 for assistance.
Shut-Off Switch
Your AC typically has a shut-down switch around its outdoor unit. This device is commonly in a metal box hung on your home. If your equipment has recently been serviced, the device may have inadvertently been positioned in the “off” position.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans hold the additional water your AC removes from the air. This pan can be situated either under or inside your furnace or air handler.
When there’s an obstruction or blocked drain, water can build up and prompt a safety feature to turn off your system.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the additional liquid with a special pan-cleaning capsule. You can buy these capsules at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan has a pump, find the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you may need to replace the pump. Reach us at 763-276-0617 for assistance.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your equipment is on but not cooling, its airflow may be congested. Or it may not have enough refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your unit’s airflow can be restricted by a clogged air filter or filthy condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A dusty filter can create numerous issues, such as:
- Reduced comfort
- Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Inconsistent cooling
- Larger energy expenses
- Making your system break down sooner
We recommend replacing flat filters once a month, and accordion filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last replaced yours, shut off your system fully and take out the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be found in an adjoining filter holder 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 AC Equipment
Brush, plants and bushes can get in the way of your condensing equipment. This could restrict its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s how you can get your equipment operating properly again.
- Shut off electricity totally at the breaker or outside lever.
- Get rid of vegetation rubbish around the unit. Once you’ve gotten rid of all the debris within a two-foot range, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to carefully clean the equipment’s fins. Crooked fins can also hurt efficiency, so you can attempt to correct them with a dinner knife.
- Lift off the top of your system and remove any leaves or weeds that has collected. Then wipe off the condenser fan with a wet rag.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly remove gunk off the fins from inside the equipment. Don’t get moisture on the fan motor.
- Put the top back on and turn the power back on.
Leaking Refrigerant
When cooling equipment doesn’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from the air.
Here are several symptoms that your equipment is losing refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to refresh your space and you’re continually turning down the thermostat.
- Cooling blowing through the registers isn’t as chilly as it should be.
- You’re experiencing whistling or bubbling racket when cooling runs.
- Your evaporator coil is frozen as a result of having difficulty taking on humidity.
Think your equipment is seeping refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service specialist to take care of the leak and refill the proper measurement of refrigerant in your system. Get in touch with us at 763-276-0617 for assistance.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not having enough cool air, there’s potentially a blockage or detachment within your cooling unit.
- The initial place is looking at your air filter. Replace it if it’s filthy.
- Then ensure the vents are open throughout your rooms.
- If you’re still not receiving sufficient cold air, you should have your duct system inspected by a pro like Home Comfort Heating & Air. Your duct system may need to be repaired or reconnected in tricky locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.