Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of reasons why your air conditioning system won’t run: a tripped circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
Your air conditioning won’t start when you have a blown breaker.
To see if one has blown, locate your house’s main electrical panel. You can spot this metallic box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Confirm your hands and feet aren’t wet before you work on the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker labeled “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” position. If it’s overloaded, the switch will be in the middle or “off” location.
- Steadily transfer the switch back to the “on” spot. If it immediately triggers again, leave it alone and call us at 636-206-4250. A breaker that keeps tripping may indicate your house has an electrical issue.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t telling your air conditioner to run, it won’t turn on.
The most important point is making sure it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC may not switch on. Or you might receive hot air blowing from vents being the heat is on instead.
If you’re using a digital thermostat:
- Swap out the batteries if the readout is clear. If the readout is displaying scrambled numbers, buy a new thermostat.
- Ensure the right mode is showing. If you can’t update it, override it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if scheduling is not right.
- Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is identical to the space’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is calibrated properly, you should receive cold air quickly.
If you rely on a smart thermostat, including ones manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you still can’t get it to work, reach us at 636-206-4250 for help.
Shut-Off Switch
Your cooling equipment typically has a power-cutting switch by its outdoor unit. This switch is generally in a metal box hung on your house. If your air conditioner has recently been tuned up, the device may have accidentally been placed in the “off” location.
Overflowing Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans hold the surplus liquid your system removes from the air. This pan can be situated either under or inside your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a clog or backed up drain, water can accumulate and initiate a safety control to turn off your equipment.
If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the extra condensation with a special pan-cleaning capsule. 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 install a new pump. Reach us at 636-206-4250 for assistance.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your AC is working but not cooling, its airflow may be clogged. Or it might not have adequate refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be reduced by a plugged air filter or dirty condenser.
How to Put in a New Your Air Filter
A filthy filter can cause countless issues, like:
- Limited cooling
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Inconsistent cooling
- Larger utility bills
- Leading your system to wear out sooner
We propose changing flat filters monthly, and creased filters every three months.
If you aren’t sure when you last installed a new one, switch off your system fully and take out the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be located in an attached filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
Hold the filter up to your light fixture. If you see a lot of dust, you should get a new one.
5 Tips on Cleaning Your Cooling System
Greenery, plants and sticks can get in the way of your condensing system. This could limit its airflow, make it less energy efficient and affect your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your unit operating well again.
- Switch off power totally at the breaker or outdoor switch.
- Remove plant debris around the unit. Once you’ve cleared larger debris within a two-foot area, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to slowly clean the unit’s fins. Deformed fins can also hurt performance, so you can attempt to straighten them with a dinner knife.
- Remove the top of your unit and remove any leaves or weeds that has accumulated. Then clean the condenser fan with a moist cloth.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly take off dirt on the fins from inside the equipment. Make sure to avoid getting water on the fan motor.
- Install the top again and turn the power back on.
Leaking Refrigerant
When air conditioning systems don’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from the air.
Here are a few indications that your unit is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes too long to refresh your rooms and you’re constantly lowering the thermostat.
- Air conditioning coming through the vents isn’t as chilled as it should be.
- You’re noticing hissing or burbling noises when the AC works.
- Your evaporator coil is frosted due to having an issue handling warmth.
Suspect your equipment is losing refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service specialist to repair the leak and restore the correct measurement of refrigerant in your equipment. Contact us at 636-206-4250 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not receiving ample amounts of chilled air, there’s potentially a clog or detachment within your cooling unit.
- The beginning step is checking your air filter. Replace it if it’s dusty.
- Then ensure the ductwork is open throughout your residence.
- If you’re still not receiving sufficient cold air, you should have your ductwork checked by a specialist like Air Alliance Team. Your ductwork might need to be serviced or relinked in difficult locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.