Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a few explanations why your AC equipment won’t cool: a tripped circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Blown Circuit Breaker
Your cooling won’t run when you have an overloaded breaker.
To check if one has blown, locate your residence’s main electrical panel. You can spot this gray fixture 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.
- Find the breaker identified “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” position. If it’s overloaded, the breaker will be in the "off" position.
- Quickly transfer the breaker back to the “on” position. If it instantly trips again, leave it alone and call us at 402-628-0206. A fuse that keeps tripping might indicate your residence has an electrical issue.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your air conditioner to work, it won’t switch on.
The main point is checking it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC will probably not start running. You may also receive heated air blowing from vents since the heater is on instead.
If you rely on a digital thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the readout is blank. If the screen is showing jumbled characters, get a new thermostat.
- Make sure the right setting is showing. If you can’t update it, override it by dropping the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if programming is incorrect.
- Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat is identical to the house’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is calibrated correctly, you should start getting cool air fast.
If you rely on a smart thermostat, such as one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for help. If you still can’t get it to work, contact us at 402-628-0206 for assistance.
Shut-Off Switch
Your air conditioner typically has a shut-down lever around its condenser. This device is commonly in a metal box hung on your home. If your AC has recently been tuned up, the lever may have inadvertently been turned off.
Overflowing Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans catch the additional water your air conditioner takes out of the air. This pan is located either below or in your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a clog or clogged drain, water can build up and prompt a safety feature to switch off your air conditioner.
If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the surplus liquid with a custom pan-cleaning tab. You can buy these capsules at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan involves a pump, locate the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you may need to replace the pump. Reach us at 402-628-0206 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your air conditioner is on but not cooling, its airflow may be congested. Or it might not have enough refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be reduced by a blocked air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A filthy filter can lead to many problems, like:
- Lower comfort
- Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Inconsistent cooling
- Higher electricity bills
- Making your system stop working faster
We propose changing flat filters every four weeks, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t recall when you last replaced your filter, switch off your AC totally and pull out the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be located in a connected filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see any light, you certainly should replace it.
How to Clean Your Air Conditioning System
Greenery, plants and leaves can get in the way of your condensing unit. This can limit its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your equipment running properly again.
- Switch off power fully at the breaker or external device.
- Remove plant waste around the equipment. Once you’ve removed bigger clutter within a two-foot range, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dirt from the condenser fins. Misshapen fins can also hurt efficiency.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully take off dirt on the fins from inside the unit. Don’t get moisture on the fan motor.
- Turn on the power.
Insufficient Refrigerant
When air conditioning equipment doesn’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll struggle to remove heat and humidity from your space.
Here are a couple of indications that your unit is losing refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to cool your residence and you’re constantly turning down the thermostat.
- Air conditioning coming through the ducts isn’t as chilled as it should be.
- You’re noticing fizzing or gurgling noises when the air conditioning runs.
- Your evaporator coil is iced over because it’s having difficulty absorbing warmth.
Think your equipment is losing refrigerant? You need a qualified heating and cooling service specialist to fix the leak and restore the proper measurement of refrigerant in your unit. Reach us at 402-628-0206 for support.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not getting ample amounts of chilled air, there’s usually an obstruction or detachment inside your cooling equipment.
- The initial place is looking at your air filter. Replace it if it’s dusty.
- Make sure the ductwork is open throughout your rooms.
- If you’re still not getting ample chilly air, you should have your ducts inspected by a pro like The Frazier Company. Your duct system could need to be fixed or rejoined in difficult locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.