Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be several reasons why your AC equipment won’t run: an overloaded circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a switched off switch or a full condensate drain pan.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
Your cooling won’t run when you have a blown breaker.
To find out if one has tripped, go to your residence’s main electrical panel. You can find this gray device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Confirm your hands and feet are dry before you work on the panel or breakers.
- Locate the breaker labeled “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s triggered, the breaker will be in the middle of the panel or “off” spot.
- Steadily shift the breaker back to the “on” spot. If it instantly triggers again, leave it alone and get in touch with us at 937-845-1111. A fuse that keeps turning off may indicate your home has an electrical issue.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t telling your AC to start, it won’t activate.
The key part is making sure it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning might not turn on. Or you could receive hot air coming from vents since the heater is going instead.
If you rely on a regular thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the screen is blank. If the monitor is presenting garbled characters, buy a new thermostat.
- Ensure the correct mode is on the display. If you can’t alter it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if programming is wrong.
- Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is set the same as the space’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is calibrated accurately, you should receive chilled air fast.
If you have a smart thermostat, such as one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for help. If you’re still having problems, reach us at 937-845-1111 for support.
Shut-Off Switch
Your air conditioner typically has a power-cutting device around its outside unit. This switch is typically in a metal box hung on your house. If your AC has recently been tuned up, the switch may have accidentally been put in the “off” setting.
Blocked Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans catch the surplus water your system takes out of the air. This pan can be found either beneath or in your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a blockage or blocked drain, water can build up and trigger a safety control to stop your unit.
If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the surplus condensation with a special pan-cleaning tablet. You can get these capsules at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan has a pump, locate the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you might have to install a new pump. Contact us at 937-845-1111 for support.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your AC is on but not providing cold air, its airflow may be congested. Or it might not have enough refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your system’s airflow can be reduced by a blocked air filter or dirty condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A dusty filter can create many issues, like:
- Lower cooling
- Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Inconsistent cooling
- Larger utility costs
- Making your system wear out sooner
We propose changing flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last changed yours, turn off your unit completely and take 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 box or wall-mounted return air grille.
Tilt the filter up to your light fixture. If you can’t see through it, you certainly should get a new one.
5 Tips on Cleaning Your Cooling Equipment
Greenery, grass and bushes can block your condensing equipment. This can restrict its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your system working well again.
- Shut off power fully at the breaker or outdoor device.
- Get rid of vegetation debris around the unit. Once you’ve gotten rid of all the clutter within a two-foot area, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to carefully remove dirt from the unit’s fins. Kinked fins can also affect performance, so you can attempt to straighten them with a blunt knife.
- Lift off the upper part of your unit and take out any leaves or grass clippings that has built up. Then clean the condenser fan with a moist scrap cloth.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully remove gunk off the fins from inside the equipment. Don’t get liquid on the fan motor.
- Replace the top and turn the power back on.
Leaking Refrigerant
When air conditioning units don’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your residence.
Here are a couple of flags that your system is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes too long to lower the temperature in your rooms and you’re regularly decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
- Air moving through the registers isn’t as cold as it should be.
- You’re experiencing hissing or burbling sounds when the air conditioning runs.
- Your evaporator coil is icy due to having trouble handling humidity.
Worried your system is leaking refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service expert to repair the leak and replenish the correct level of refrigerant in your unit. Contact us at 937-845-1111 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it feels like you’re not having adequate amounts of chilled air, there’s probably a clog or detachment somewhere in your AC unit.
- The beginning step is looking at your air filter. Replace it if it’s dirty.
- Then ensure the registers are clear throughout your house.
- If you’re still not getting enough chilly air, you should have your duct system inspected by a professional like Jent Mechanical LLC. Your ducts could need to be serviced or reconnected in limited space spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.