Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of reasons why your air conditioning system won’t start: a tripped circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Triggered Circuit Breaker
Your air conditioner won’t work when you have a blown breaker.
To determine if one has tripped, go to your house’s main electrical panel. You can locate this silver box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet are dry before you touch the panel or breakers.
- Locate the breaker identified “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s overloaded, the switch will be in the "off" position.
- Steadily shift the lever back to the “on” position. If it instantaneously triggers again, don’t touch it and call us at 308-832-4321. A fuse that keeps tripping could signal your house has an electrical problem.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your equipment to run, it won’t turn on.
The main step is checking it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC might not switch on. You may also have warm air coming from vents because the heater is going instead.
If you rely on a digital thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the readout is clear. If the screen is displaying jumbled letters, replace the thermostat.
- Ensure the correct program is showing. If you can’t update it, override it by dropping the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if scheduling is wrong.
- Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat matches the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is adjusted correctly, you should receive refreshing air quickly.
If you rely on a smart thermostat, including ones produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you still can’t get it to work, call us at 308-832-4321 for assistance.
Shut-Down Switch
Your system probably has a power-cutting lever around its outdoor unit. This switch is commonly in a metal box mounted on your residence. If your unit has recently been repaired, the lever may have unintentionally been turned off.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans keep the surplus condensation your system pulls from the air. This pan can be found either beneath or in your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a blockage or backed up drain, water can accumulate and trigger a safety setting to stop your equipment.
If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the surplus condensation with a custom pan-cleaning capsule. You can get these capsules at a home improvement or hardware store.
If your pan has a pump, locate the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you may need to install a new pump. Call us at 308-832-4321 for support.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is going but not delivering cold air, its airflow might be obstructed. Or it might not have adequate refrigerant.
Obstructed Airflow
Your unit’s airflow can be decreased by a plugged air filter or dirty condenser.
How to Change Your Air Filter
A filthy filter can create countless problems, like:
- Lower comfort
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Larger energy costs
- Leading your system to wear out sooner
We suggest replacing 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 fully and take out the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be situated in an adjoining filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to your light fixture. If you can’t see any light, you should replace it.
How to Clean Your Cooling Unit
Weeds, grass and shrubbery can block your condensing unit. This could limit its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s how you can get your system operating properly again.
- Turn off power fully at the breaker or outside device.
- Remove plant waste around the equipment. Once you’ve cleared bigger debris within a two-foot range, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dust from the equipment’s fins. Crooked fins can also hurt efficiency.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly clean the fins from inside the system. Be careful to avoid getting liquid on the fan motor.
- Turn the power back on.
Insufficient Refrigerant
When air conditioning equipment doesn’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your residence.
Here are a few indications that your unit is losing refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to cool your home and you’re regularly turning down the thermostat.
- Cooling coming through the registers isn’t as chilly as it should be.
- You’re noticing hissing or bubbling sounds when cooling is on.
- Your evaporator coil is frosty because it’s having difficulty taking on warmth.
Think your equipment is seeping refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service expert to fix the leak and refill the right measurement of refrigerant in your system. Contact us at 308-832-4321 for assistance.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it seems like you’re not getting ample amounts of chilled air, there’s potentially a clog or detachment somewhere in your air conditioning system.
- The first stage is looking at your air filter. Replace it if it’s soiled.
- Make sure the vents are open across your residence.
- If you’re still not receiving enough chilly air, you should have your ducts inspected by a specialist like MPC Heating & Cooling. Your ductwork may need to be repaired or hooked up again in limited space areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.