Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a few reasons why your air conditioning system won’t start: a tripped circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Your air conditioning won’t work when you have an overloaded breaker.
To find out if one has gotten overloaded, locate your residence’s main electrical panel. You can find this gray box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Confirm your hands and feet aren’t wet before you check the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker identified “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s tripped, the switch will be in the "off" position.
- Quickly transfer the lever back to the “on” spot. If it instantaneously trips again, don’t touch it and call us at 410-228-4822. A fuse that keeps turning off may signal your residence has an electrical problem.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your system to start, it won’t activate.
The most important step is checking it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC will probably not turn on. You may also receive hot air moving from vents since the heat is going instead.
If you rely on a digital thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the readout is empty. If the screen is displaying garbled letters, buy a new thermostat.
- Check the proper option is on the display. If you can’t alter it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if scheduling is incorrect.
- Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is set the same as the house’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set correctly, you should receive chilled air quickly.
If you rely on a smart thermostat, including ones made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If it still won’t work, reach us at 410-228-4822 for assistance.
Turn-Off Switch
Your system usually has a shut-off switch around its outside unit. This lever is typically in a metal box hung on your residence. If your air conditioner has recently been maintained, the switch may have inadvertently been turned off.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans hold the extra water your equipment takes out of the air. This pan can be situated either beneath or in your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a clog or blocked drain, water can accumulate and prompt a safety control to switch off your equipment.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the surplus water with a special pan-cleaning tab. You can purchase these tablets at a home improvement or hardware store.
If your pan has a pump, find the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you may need to get a new pump. Contact us at 410-228-4822 for support.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your AC is going but not cooling, its airflow may be blocked. Or it may not have sufficient refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your system’s airflow can be decreased by a clogged air filter or filthy condenser.
How to Put in a New Your Air Filter
A filthy filter can lead to numerous problems, like:
- Limited comfort
- Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Larger cooling bills
- Leading your system to stop working sooner
We suggest installing new flat filters monthly, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t recall when you last replaced your filter, switch off your equipment fully and remove the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be located in an attached filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.
Tilt the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see through it, you should get a new one.
4 Tips on Cleaning Your Cooling Equipment
Greenery, grass and leaves can obstruct your condensing system. This could restrict its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your unit working well again.
- Shut off electricity fully at the breaker or outdoor switch.
- Remove plant waste around the air conditioner. Once you’ve cleared larger refuse within a two-foot range, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to slowly remove dirt from the equipment’s fins. Distorted fins can also hurt efficiency.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly clean the fins from inside the unit. Make sure to avoid getting liquid on the fan motor.
- Turn the power back on.
Not Enough Refrigerant
When AC equipment doesn’t have enough refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your house.
Here are several symptoms that your unit is losing refrigerant:
- It takes too long to refresh your house and you’re regularly decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
- Cooling blowing through the vents isn’t as cold as it should be.
- You’re experiencing hissing or burbling racket when cooling runs.
- Your evaporator coil is frosty on account of having trouble absorbing warmth.
Worried your unit is losing refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service specialist to repair the leak and restore the proper amount of refrigerant in your unit. Call us at 410-228-4822 for assistance.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it feels like you’re not having adequate amounts of cold air, there’s likely a clog or separation somewhere in your AC equipment.
- The initial step is checking your air filter. Replace it if it’s soiled.
- Make sure the ductwork is open around your home.
- If you’re still not getting ample chilled air, you should have your duct system inspected by a expert like Pliescott HVAC Services LLC . Your ductwork could need to be serviced or hooked up again in tricky spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.