Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of explanations why your central AC system won’t cool: an overloaded circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a shut off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
Your AC won’t turn on when you have a tripped breaker.
To see if one has blown, go to your residence’s main electrical panel. You can locate this metallic fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet are dry before you touch the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker identified “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s triggered, the lever will be in the middle or “off” location.
- Steadily shift the breaker back to the “on” spot. If it instantly trips again, don’t reset it and call us at 805-203-8667. A breaker that keeps turning off might indicate your home has electrical trouble.
Inaccurate Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your equipment to work, it won’t activate.
The main point is ensuring it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner will probably not start running. Or you could have heated air blowing from vents being the furnace is running instead.
If you’re using a regular thermostat:
- Swap out the batteries if the monitor is empty. If the monitor is displaying jumbled numbers, get a new thermostat.
- Make sure the right option is showing. If you can’t change it, override it by decreasing the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if scheduling is incorrect.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is identical to the space’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set accurately, you should receive cold air fast.
If you’re using a smart thermostat, including ones made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you’re still having problems, call us at 805-203-8667 for support.
Shut-Off Switch
Your AC probably has a shut-down switch near its outdoor unit. This lever is generally in a metal box attached to your home. If your AC has recently been fixed, the device may have inadvertently been put in the “off” location.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans catch the extra water your equipment pulls from the air. This pan can be found either under or inside your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a clog or blocked drain, water can accumulate and initiate a safety control to stop your system.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the surplus liquid with a formulated pan-cleaning capsule. You can get these capsules at a home improvement or hardware shop.
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 replace the pump. Call us at 805-203-8667 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is working but not delivering cold air, its airflow might be blocked. Or it may not have enough refrigerant.
Clogged Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be decreased by a plugged air filter or filthy condenser.
How to Change Your Air Filter
A dirty filter can lead to countless issues, including:
- Limited comfort
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Higher cooling costs
- Causing your system to wear out more quickly
We recommend replacing flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.
If you aren’t sure when you last installed a new one, turn off your system fully and pull out the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be situated in a connected filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to the sunshine. If you see a lot of dust, you certainly should buy a new filter.
5 Steps to Cleaning Your Air Conditioning Equipment
Greenery, grass and sticks can obstruct your condensing system. This could reduce its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your system working properly again.
- Shut off the electrical current totally at the breaker or outdoor lever.
- Clear greenery debris around the air conditioner. Once you’ve gotten rid of all the refuse within a two-foot radius, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to carefully remove dust from the unit’s fins. Warped fins can also impact capability, so you can attempt to reshape them with a dinner knife.
- Lift off the upper part of your system and pull out any leaves or sticks that has built up. Then wipe down the condenser fan with a wet rag.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly remove gunk off the fins from inside the equipment. Don’t get water on the fan motor.
- Put the top back on and turn on the power.
Insufficient Refrigerant
When AC units don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from the air.
Here are several indications that your unit is seeping refrigerant:
- It takes a long time to refresh your residence and you’re continually decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
- Air conditioning moving through the ducts isn’t as chilled as it should be.
- You’re noticing hissing or bubbling racket when the air conditioning is on.
- Your evaporator coil is icy as a result of having difficulty taking on warmth.
Think your unit is leaking refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service professional to fix the leak and restore the correct level of refrigerant in your system. Contact us at 805-203-8667 for support.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it seems like you’re not getting ample amounts of chilled air, there’s potentially a blockage or disconnection inside your air conditioning unit.
- The first stage is looking at your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s filthy.
- Then make sure the registers are open around your rooms.
- If you’re still not getting ample chilled air, you should have your ducts checked by a specialist like Paso Robles Heating and Air. Your duct system may need to be fixed or rejoined in difficult spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.