Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be several causes why your air conditioning won’t cool: a blown circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
Your cooling won’t turn on when you have a tripped breaker.
To find out if one has tripped, find your home’s main electrical panel. You can spot this silver device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Confirm your hands and feet are free of moisture before you work on the panel or breakers.
- Find the breaker identified “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s triggered, the breaker will be in the "off" position.
- Firmly shift the lever back to the “on” spot. If it instantaneously flips again, leave it alone and contact us at 520-200-1048. A fuse that keeps flipping might signal your home has an electrical problem.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your AC to work, it won’t switch on.
The first step is checking it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC might not turn on. You may also have warm air blowing from vents being the heater is going instead.
If you rely on a digital thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the monitor is clear. If the readout is displaying jumbled letters, replace the thermostat.
- Check the proper setting is on the display. If you can’t alter it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if the configuration is incorrect.
- Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees cooler than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat matches the house’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set properly, you should begin getting chilled air fast.
If you rely on a smart thermostat, including ones manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you still can’t get it to work, reach us at 520-200-1048 for support.
Shut-Down Switch
Your cooling equipment probably has a shut-off lever by its outdoor unit. This device is commonly in a metal box hung on your house. If your AC has recently been worked on, the device may have accidentally been turned off.
Blocked Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans catch the extra liquid your air conditioner pulls from the air. This pan can be found either beneath or within your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a clog or blocked drain, water can build up and trigger a safety setting to switch off your unit.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the extra liquid with a formulated pan-cleaning capsule. You can purchase these tablets at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan involves a pump, locate the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you might have to install a new pump. Contact us at 520-200-1048 for assistance.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your equipment is going but not providing cold air, its airflow may be congested. Or it might not have sufficient refrigerant.
Clogged Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be reduced by a plugged air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A filthy filter can create a lot of troubles, like:
- Lower comfort
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Inconsistent cooling
- Increased energy expenses
- Leading your system to stop working faster
We suggest installing new flat filters every four weeks, and pleated filters every three months.
If you aren’t sure when you last replaced your filter, turn off your system completely and remove 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 case or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to the light. If you see a lot of dust, you should get a new one.
4 Tips on Cleaning Your Cooling Equipment
Greenery, grass and sticks can get in the way of your condensing system. This could reduce its airflow, make it less energy efficient and change your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your unit operating properly again.
- Switch off the electrical current fully at the breaker or outdoor switch.
- Clear vegetation waste around the AC. Once you’ve cleared larger refuse within a two-foot area, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to carefully remove dust from the condenser fins. Bent fins can also affect effectiveness.
- Use a hose nozzle to gingerly take off dirt on the fins from inside the equipment. Make sure to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
- Turn the power back on.
Not Enough Refrigerant
When air conditioning units don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll struggle to remove heat and humidity from your rooms.
Here are a couple of signs that your system is seeping refrigerant:
- It takes a long time to refresh your home and you’re continually turning down the thermostat.
- Air conditioning blowing through the registers isn’t as chilled as it should be.
- You’re experiencing hissing or bubbling sounds when the air conditioning is on.
- Your evaporator coil is iced over as a result of having difficulty handling heat.
Suspect your equipment is seeping refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service professional to fix the leak and refill the correct amount of refrigerant in your system. Reach us at 520-200-1048 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it seems like you’re not receiving adequate amounts of cold air, there’s probably a clog or disconnection within your air conditioning system.
- The initial place is checking your air filter. Replace it if it’s soiled.
- Make sure the registers are open across your rooms.
- If you’re still not receiving adequate chilly air, you should have your ducts inspected by a specialist like A&M Heating & Cooling LLC. Your ductwork may need to be fixed or rejoined in limited space spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.