Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a few reasons why your air conditioner won’t work: an overloaded circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Triggered Circuit Breaker
Your system won’t start when you have an overloaded breaker.
To determine if one has tripped, locate your residence’s main electrical panel. You can locate this gray fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you check the panel or breakers.
- Locate the breaker marked “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” position. If it’s overloaded, the breaker will be in the middle or “off” spot.
- Steadily transfer the lever back to the “on” spot. If it immediately trips again, don’t touch it and call us at 478-200-5689. A breaker that keeps turning off might indicate your house has an electrical problem.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your equipment to run, it won’t activate.
The first point is making sure it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning may not turn on. Or you may get hot air coming from vents since the heater is on instead.
If you rely on a traditional thermostat:
- Swap out the batteries if the readout is empty. If the screen is displaying jumbled letters, buy a new thermostat.
- Make sure the right program is on the display. If you can’t alter it, cancel it by dropping the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if scheduling is incorrect.
- Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees cooler than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat is set the same as the house’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is adjusted properly, you should start getting cold air promptly.
If you’re using a smart thermostat, such as one produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If it still won’t work, reach us at 478-200-5689 for support.
Shut-Down Switch
Your cooling equipment probably has a shut-down switch near its outdoor unit. This lever is generally in a metal box attached to your house. If your air conditioner has recently been fixed, the lever may have inadvertently been positioned in the “off” setting.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans hold the additional water your system takes out of the air. This pan can be positioned either beneath or inside your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a clog or clogged drain, water can build up and trigger a safety setting to stop your air conditioner.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the additional condensation with a special pan-cleaning tablet. You can get these tablets at a home improvement or hardware shop.
If your pan includes a pump, locate the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you may need to get a new pump. Contact us at 478-200-5689 for assistance.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is going 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 clogged air filter or filthy condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A dirty filter can create many problems, like:
- Limited cooling
- Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Inconsistent cooling
- Larger energy costs
- Making your system stop working more quickly
We recommend installing new flat filters monthly, and pleated filters every three months.
If you aren’t sure when you last changed yours, switch off your system completely and pull out the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be found in an attached filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.
Tilt the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see through it, you certainly should replace it.
How to Clean Your Air Conditioning System
Greenery, plants and sticks can get in the way of your condensing system. This could restrict its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your system working smoothly again.
- Switch off power fully at the breaker or outdoor switch.
- Clear yard waste around the equipment. Once you’ve removed all the debris within a two-foot space, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dirt from the equipment’s fins. Crooked fins can also hurt capability, so you can attempt to correct them with a dinner knife.
- Take off the top of your AC and pull out any leaves or weeds that has accumulated. Then wipe down the condenser fan with a damp cloth.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly clean the fins from inside the unit. Don’t get liquid on the fan motor.
- Put the top back on and turn on the power.
Not Enough Refrigerant
When air conditioning units don’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your rooms.
Here are several symptoms that your system is losing refrigerant:
- It takes too long to cool your house and you’re regularly turning down the thermostat.
- Cooling blowing through the registers isn’t as chilly as it should be.
- You’re experiencing fizzing or burbling sounds when the air conditioning is on.
- Your evaporator coil is icy because it’s having difficulty taking on heat.
Think your system is losing refrigerant? You need a qualified heating and cooling service professional to fix the leak and restore the proper amount of refrigerant in your system. Contact us at 478-200-5689 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it seems like you’re not getting adequate amounts of chilled air, there’s probably an obstruction or detachment somewhere in your AC system.
- The first place is looking at your air filter. Get a new one if it’s dirty.
- Then ensure the ductwork is open across your rooms.
- If you’re still not receiving ample chilled air, you should have your ductwork checked by a professional like Air Concepts of Middle Georgia. Your ductwork might need to be serviced or relinked in tricky areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.