Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be several reasons why your central AC system won’t work: a blown circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a turned off switch or a full condensate drain pan.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
Your air conditioner won’t turn on when you have a blown breaker.
To check if one has blown, locate your home’s main electrical panel. You can find this gray device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Make sure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you check the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker labeled “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s tripped, the lever will be in the middle of the panel or “off” position.
- Quickly shift the switch back to the “on” location. If it immediately trips again, don’t reset it and call us at 561-270-6228. A fuse that keeps flipping might mean your home has electrical trouble.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your AC to work, it won’t turn on.
The key part is ensuring it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner might not switch on. Or you might receive warm air blowing from vents because the heat is on instead.
If you rely on a digital thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the screen is clear. If the monitor is presenting garbled letters, get a new thermostat.
- Ensure the correct option is showing. If you can’t update it, cancel it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if the configuration is wrong.
- Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is identical to the house’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is calibrated correctly, you should begin getting chilled air promptly.
If you have a smart thermostat, including ones produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for help. If you still can’t get it to work, reach us at 561-270-6228 for assistance.
Shut-Down Switch
Your cooling equipment probably has a power-cutting switch around its outdoor unit. This switch is generally in a metal box attached to your house. If your air conditioner has recently been repaired, the device may have unintentionally been placed in the “off” location.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans hold the extra liquid your AC pulls from the air. This pan can be found either beneath or inside your furnace or air handler.
When there’s an obstruction or clogged drain, water can become concentrated and trigger a safety control to turn off your equipment.
If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the surplus condensation with a special pan-cleaning capsule. You can get these capsules at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan includes a pump, find the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you might have to install a new pump. Reach us at 561-270-6228 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your AC is on but not delivering cold air, its airflow may be blocked. Or it could not have sufficient refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be restricted by a blocked air filter or filthy condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A filthy filter can lead to countless problems, such as:
- Reduced cooling
- Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Inconsistent cooling
- Increased utility expenses
- Causing your system to stop working faster
We recommend replacing flat filters monthly, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t recall when you last installed a new one, turn off your system completely and remove 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.
Hold the filter up to your light fixture. If you see a lot of dust, you need to replace it.
How to Clean Your Air Conditioning Unit
Brush, plants and sticks can obstruct your condensing equipment. This could reduce its airflow, make it less energy efficient and affect your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your equipment operating properly again.
- Switch off electricity totally at the breaker or outside lever.
- Clear greenery rubbish around the AC. Once you’ve removed bigger refuse within a two-foot space, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to slowly remove dirt from the equipment’s fins. Kinked fins can also hurt effectiveness, so you can attempt to straighten them with a dinner knife.
- Take off the upper part of your air conditioner and pull out any leaves or weeds that has built up. Then clean the condenser fan with a moist rag.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly clean the fins from inside the system. Make sure to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
- Put the top back on and turn on the power.
Not Enough Refrigerant
When AC systems don’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 system is seeping refrigerant:
- It takes a long time to lower the temperature in your space and you’re continually turning down the thermostat.
- Air conditioning blowing through the ducts isn’t as chilled as it should be.
- You’re experiencing fizzing or burbling racket when cooling is on.
- Your evaporator coil is frosty as a result of having trouble handling warmth.
Worried your unit is seeping refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service professional to fix the leak and replenish the correct level of refrigerant in your unit. Reach us at 561-270-6228 for support.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it feels like you’re not having adequate amounts of cold air, there’s possibly a blockage or detachment inside your AC unit.
- The initial stage is looking at your air filter. Replace it if it’s dusty.
- Then check the vents are free throughout your house.
- If you’re still not getting adequate chilled air, you should have your duct system inspected by a professional like A2Z Air Inc. Your duct system may need to be repaired or relinked in hard-to-reach locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.