Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be several causes why your central AC system won’t work: a tripped circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a shut off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Triggered Circuit Breaker
Your AC won’t work when you have a blown breaker.
To check if one has blown, go to your house’s main electrical panel. You can spot this gray box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you work on the panel or breakers.
- Find the breaker labeled “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” location. If it’s overloaded, the breaker will be in the "off" position.
- Firmly transfer the breaker back to the “on” spot. If it instantaneously trips again, don’t reset it and contact us at 239-241-5318. A breaker that keeps turning off could indicate your home has an electrical problem.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your system to run, it won’t switch on.
The first step is making sure it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning might not start running. You could also get hot air blowing from vents being the heat is running instead.
If you have a regular thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the readout is empty. If the readout is displaying scrambled numbers, buy a new thermostat.
- Check the right program is on the display. If you can’t update it, override it by lowering the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if programming is not right.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat matches the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is adjusted correctly, you should begin getting cold air quickly.
If you’re using a smart thermostat, like one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If it still won’t work, call us at 239-241-5318 for assistance.
Shut-Off Switch
Your air conditioner typically has a power-cutting switch near its condenser. This switch is generally in a metal box hung on your house. If your AC has recently been worked on, the switch may have accidentally been turned off.
Overflowing Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans hold the additional water your equipment removes from the air. This pan is located either beneath or within your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a clog or backed up drain, water can accumulate and trigger a safety feature to switch off your system.
If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the surplus condensation with a custom pan-cleaning capsule. You can get 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 moisture in the pan, you may need to get a new pump. Contact us at 239-241-5318 for support.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your air conditioner is working but not cooling, its airflow might be clogged. Or it could not have sufficient refrigerant.
Clogged Airflow
Your unit’s airflow can be decreased by a clogged air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A dirty filter can create countless issues, like:
- Limited cooling
- Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Inconsistent cooling
- Bigger utility bills
- Causing your system to stop working sooner
We suggest replacing flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.
If you aren’t sure when you last replaced your filter, shut off your equipment totally and remove the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be found in a connected filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to your light fixture. If you can’t see any light, you need to replace it.
How to Clean Your Cooling System
Brush, vegetation and bushes can get in the way of your condensing unit. This could restrict its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your unit operating smoothly again.
- Shut off electricity fully at the breaker or outside device.
- Clear yard waste around the equipment. Once you’ve cleared bigger refuse within a two-foot space, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to carefully clean the equipment’s fins. Crooked fins can also impact capability.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly take off dirt on the fins from inside the equipment. Don’t get moisture on the fan motor.
- Turn the power back on.
Not Enough Refrigerant
When air conditioning units don’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll struggle to remove heat and humidity from your house.
Here are a few indications that your unit is seeping refrigerant:
- It takes a long time to cool your space and you’re continually lowering the thermostat.
- Cooling blowing through the vents isn’t as chilly as it should be.
- You’re experiencing hissing or gurgling sounds when cooling runs.
- Your evaporator coil is iced over as a result of having an issue handling warmth.
Worried your system is losing refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service professional to take care of the leak and refill the proper measurement of refrigerant in your system. Call us at 239-241-5318 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not receiving enough chilled air, there’s probably an obstruction or detachment somewhere in your cooling unit.
- The initial step is looking at your air filter. Replace it if it’s dirty.
- Make sure the ductwork is open throughout your rooms.
- If you’re still not receiving enough chilled air, you should have your ductwork inspected by a expert like CNR Air Conditioning Inc. Your ductwork may need to be serviced or relinked in hard-to-reach areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.