Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of causes why your air conditioning system won’t start: an overloaded circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
Your AC won’t run when you have a tripped breaker.
To see if one has blown, locate your house’s main electrical panel. You can locate this silver device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet are dry before you touch the panel or breakers.
- Locate the breaker labeled “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” location. If it’s tripped, the breaker will be in the "off" position.
- Quickly move the lever back to the “on” spot. If it instantaneously triggers again, leave it alone and get in touch with us at 239-244-3439. A breaker that keeps flipping might mean your home has an electrical problem.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your AC to start, it won’t turn on.
The first part is making sure it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning will probably not switch on. You may also get heated air moving from vents being the heater is on instead.
If you’re using a traditional thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the readout is clear. If the readout is presenting garbled numbers, get a new thermostat.
- Make sure the correct program is displaying. If you can’t update it, override it by lowering the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if scheduling is not right.
- Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is set the same as the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set accurately, you should begin getting cold air fast.
If you’re using a smart thermostat, such as one produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If it still won’t work, call us at 239-244-3439 for support.
Shut-Down Switch
Your cooling equipment usually has a shut-down lever near its condenser. This lever is generally in a metal box hung on your residence. If your unit has recently been tuned up, the lever may have accidentally been turned off.
Overflowing Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans hold the extra condensation your air conditioner takes out of the air. This pan can be situated either under or inside your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a blockage or blocked drain, water can build up and trigger a safety control to switch off your unit.
If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the additional liquid with a special pan-cleaning capsule. You can purchase these tabs at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan includes a pump, find the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you might have to get a new pump. Call us at 239-244-3439 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your AC is running but not cooling, its airflow might be blocked. Or it may not have sufficient refrigerant.
Obstructed Airflow
Your unit’s airflow can be restricted by a blocked air filter or filthy condenser.
How to Change Your Air Filter
A filthy filter can cause a lot of issues, including:
- Reduced comfort
- Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Larger cooling bills
- Making your system stop working more quickly
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 unit 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 adjoining filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to your light fixture. If you see a lot of dust, you need to buy a new filter.
4 Steps to Cleaning Your Cooling System
Weeds, vegetation and bushes can get in the way of your condensing equipment. This can limit its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your equipment running properly again.
- Switch off the electrical current fully at the breaker or outdoor device.
- Remove yard debris around the air conditioner. Once you’ve removed all the refuse within a two-foot radius, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to carefully clean the equipment’s fins. Deformed fins can also hurt efficiency.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly take off dirt on the fins from inside the system. Be careful to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
- Turn the power back on.
Low Refrigerant Levels
When AC systems don’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll struggle to remove heat and humidity from your rooms.
Here are a couple of signs that your equipment is losing refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to cool your house and you’re regularly lowering the thermostat.
- Air blowing through the vents isn’t as chilly as it should be.
- You’re experiencing whistling or gurgling noises when cooling is on.
- Your evaporator coil is frosted because it’s having trouble handling heat.
Think your equipment is losing refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service expert to repair the leak and restore the right level of refrigerant in your unit. Reach us at 239-244-3439 for support.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it seems like you’re not having adequate amounts of cool air, there’s potentially a clog or separation somewhere in your air conditioning system.
- The initial place is checking your air filter. Get a new one if it’s dirty.
- Make sure the registers are open across your home.
- If you’re still not receiving enough chilled air, you should have your ductwork examined by a professional like Speedy Air Conditioning. Your ductwork could need to be fixed or reconnected in limited space areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.