Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be several reasons why your air conditioning won’t start: an overloaded circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Triggered Circuit Breaker
Your AC won’t work when you have a blown breaker.
To find out if one has blown, find your residence’s main electrical panel. You can locate this silver device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Confirm your hands and feet are dry before you touch the panel or breakers.
- Find the breaker marked “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s tripped, the lever will be in the middle or “off” position.
- Quickly transfer the switch back to the “on” spot. If it instantaneously triggers again, don’t touch it and reach us at 734-363-8907. A fuse that keeps turning off might signal your residence has electrical trouble.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t telling your air conditioner to run, it won’t switch on.
The most important step is checking it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner will probably not turn on. Or you might have warm air blowing from vents since the heat is on instead.
If you have a traditional thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the screen is clear. If the monitor is displaying garbled letters, replace the thermostat.
- Make sure the proper setting is on the display. If you can’t update it, override it by lowering the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if programming is wrong.
- Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat matches the space’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is adjusted correctly, you should start getting cool air promptly.
If you’re using a smart thermostat, including ones produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you still can’t get it to work, contact us at 734-363-8907 for help.
Shut-Down Switch
Your AC probably has a shut-off lever by its condenser. This lever is commonly in a metal box hung on your residence. If your air conditioner has recently been serviced, the device may have inadvertently been positioned in the “off” location.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans keep the additional water your system removes from the air. This pan is located either beneath or in your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a blockage or blocked drain, water can accumulate and prompt a safety setting to turn off your system.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the surplus liquid with a formulated pan-cleaning tab. You can get these capsules at a home improvement or hardware store.
If your pan involves a pump, look for the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you could need to get a new pump. Call us at 734-363-8907 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your AC is running but not delivering cold air, its airflow could be congested. Or it could not have adequate refrigerant.
Obstructed Airflow
Your unit’s airflow can be reduced by a clogged air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Change Your Air Filter
A dirty filter can cause countless troubles, like:
- Limited airflow
- Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Higher cooling bills
- Leading your system to break down sooner
We recommend changing flat filters monthly, and accordion filters every three months.
If you aren’t sure when you last installed a new one, switch off your AC 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 an adjoining filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see through it, you should buy a new filter.
5 Steps to Cleaning Your AC Equipment
Greenery, grass and shrubbery can get in the way of your condensing system. This could reduce its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your equipment running well again.
- Turn off the electrical current totally at the breaker or outdoor device.
- Clear vegetation debris around the air conditioner. Once you’ve gotten rid of bigger debris within a two-foot radius, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to slowly clean the condenser fins. Deformed fins can also hurt performance, so you can attempt to reshape them with a small knife.
- Lift off the upper part of your unit and remove any leaves or yard waste that has accumulated. Then wipe down the condenser fan with a moist cloth.
- 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.
- Install the top again and restore the power.
Not Enough Refrigerant
When air conditioning equipment doesn’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your rooms.
Here are a few symptoms that your equipment is seeping refrigerant:
- It takes a long time to refresh your home and you’re continually turning down the thermostat.
- Cooling moving through the ducts isn’t as chilled as it should be.
- You’re noticing whistling or gurgling noises when the air conditioning is on.
- Your evaporator coil is frosty because it’s having trouble taking on heat.
Worried your unit is leaking refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service specialist to fix the leak and replenish the correct level of refrigerant in your equipment. Reach us at 734-363-8907 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it feels like you’re not getting adequate amounts of cool air, there’s probably a blockage or detachment somewhere in your cooling equipment.
- The beginning place is examining your air filter. Replace it if it’s filthy.
- Then ensure the registers are clear across your rooms.
- If you’re still not getting adequate cold air, you should have your ducts inspected by a expert like Gee & Missler Heating & Air Conditioning. Your ductwork may need to be fixed or reconnected in limited space spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.