Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of reasons why your air conditioning won’t run: a triggered circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a switched off switch or a full condensate drain pan.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
Your system won’t run when you have a tripped breaker.
To find out if one has tripped, find your house’s main electrical panel. You can locate this gray device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Make sure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you touch the panel or breakers.
- Locate the breaker identified “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s triggered, the breaker will be in the "off" position.
- Firmly shift the lever back to the “on” position. If it immediately trips again, don’t touch it and get in touch with us at 804-302-6657. A switch that keeps turning off might indicate your residence has electrical trouble.
Inaccurate Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your air conditioner to run, it won’t turn on.
The first step is making sure it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning may not turn on. You could also have heated air blowing from vents because the heat is on instead.
If you have a traditional thermostat:
- Swap out the batteries if the monitor is clear. If the monitor is showing scrambled characters, buy a new thermostat.
- Check the correct program is showing. If you can’t alter it, reverse it by dropping the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if programming is incorrect.
- Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees cooler than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is identical to the house’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is adjusted accurately, you should begin getting chilled air quickly.
If you rely on a smart thermostat, including ones produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for help. If you’re still having problems, contact us at 804-302-6657 for assistance.
Shut-Down Switch
Your AC usually has a shut-off device around its condenser. This switch is typically in a metal box attached to your house. If your unit has recently been tuned up, the lever may have unintentionally been turned off.
Blocked Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans keep the additional liquid your system pulls from the air. This pan can be found either beneath or inside your furnace or air handler.
When there’s an obstruction or blocked drain, water can accumulate and prompt a safety setting to switch off your air conditioner.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the extra liquid with a custom pan-cleaning capsule. You can purchase these tabs at a home improvement or hardware store.
If your pan has a pump, locate the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you might have to install a new pump. Contact us at 804-302-6657 for assistance.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your equipment is going but not delivering cold air, its airflow may be obstructed. Or it might not have sufficient refrigerant.
Obstructed Airflow
Your unit’s airflow can be limited by a clogged air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A dirty filter can create countless problems, such as:
- Reduced comfort
- Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Intermittent cooling
- Increased electricity costs
- Leading your system to stop working faster
We recommend installing new flat filters monthly, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t recall when you last replaced your filter, turn off your AC totally and remove the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be located in a connected filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to your light fixture. If you can’t see any light, you should replace it.
How to Clean Your Cooling Unit
Greenery, grass and leaves can obstruct your condensing equipment. This could limit its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s how you can get your unit working properly again.
- Turn off electricity completely at the breaker or outdoor lever.
- Get rid of vegetation rubbish around the unit. Once you’ve removed larger debris within a two-foot radius, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to slowly remove dirt from the unit’s fins. Deformed fins can also hurt efficiency.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully take off dirt on the fins from inside the equipment. Don’t get water on the fan motor.
- Turn on the power.
Low Refrigerant Levels
When cooling equipment doesn’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your home.
Here are a few signs that your unit is losing refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to cool your residence and you’re regularly turning down the thermostat.
- Cooling moving through the vents isn’t as chilly as it should be.
- You’re noticing fizzing or bubbling noises when the AC works.
- Your evaporator coil is frozen because it’s having difficulty absorbing warmth.
Think your system is leaking refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service professional to repair the leak and restore the right measurement of refrigerant in your equipment. Contact us at 804-302-6657 for assistance.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it feels like you’re not having enough chilled air, there’s probably an obstruction or separation within your air conditioning equipment.
- The beginning stage is examining your air filter. Replace it if it’s soiled.
- Make sure the ductwork is open around your residence.
- If you’re still not experiencing enough chilly air, you should have your duct system checked by a expert like Herman Allen Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. Your duct system may need to be fixed or hooked up again in difficult locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.