Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of causes why your air conditioning won’t start: an overloaded circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Your AC won’t start when you have an overloaded breaker.
To find out if one has blown, find your house’s main electrical panel. You can spot this silver fixture 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 marked “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s triggered, the lever will be in the middle of the panel or “off” position.
- Quickly transfer the lever back to the “on” location. If it instantaneously trips again, leave it alone and contact us at 724-370-0141. A fuse that keeps flipping might indicate your house has an electrical issue.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t telling your equipment to start, it won’t activate.
The main point is ensuring it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning will probably not turn on. Or you may get warm air moving from vents because the heater is on instead.
If you have a regular thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the monitor is clear. If the monitor is showing jumbled numbers, replace the thermostat.
- Make sure the right setting is displaying. If you can’t alter it, override it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if the configuration is wrong.
- Attempt to set 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 accurately, you should receive cool air promptly.
If you have a smart thermostat, like one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you still can’t get it to work, reach us at 724-370-0141 for assistance.
Shut-Off Switch
Your cooling equipment typically has a power-cutting lever near its condenser. This switch is generally in a metal box mounted on your residence. If your AC has recently been fixed, the lever may have inadvertently been placed in the “off” position.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans hold the surplus water your system removes from the air. This pan can be found either below or within your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a clog or backed up drain, water can build up and trigger a safety setting to switch off your unit.
If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the extra water with a formulated pan-cleaning capsule. You can buy 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 liquid in the pan, you might have to get a new pump. Call us at 724-370-0141 for support.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is going but not delivering cold air, its airflow might be clogged. Or it might not have sufficient refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your system’s airflow can be restricted by a blocked air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A dusty filter can create countless issues, including:
- Reduced airflow
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Inconsistent cooling
- Bigger utility expenses
- Leading your system to wear out sooner
We recommend changing flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t recall when you last changed yours, switch off your system completely and pull out the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be situated in a connected filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
Hold the filter up to the light. If you can’t see any light, you should replace it.
How to Clean Your AC System
Greenery, vegetation and sticks can block your condensing unit. This could restrict its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s how you can get your equipment operating well again.
- Turn off electricity totally at the breaker or outside device.
- Remove vegetation waste around the equipment. Once you’ve cleared all the refuse within a two-foot radius, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to slowly clean the unit’s fins. Crooked fins can also hurt capability, so you can attempt to adjust them with a blunt knife.
- Lift off the upper grate of your AC and remove any leaves or yard waste that has collected. Then wipe off the condenser fan with a moist cloth.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully take off dirt on the fins from inside the unit. Don’t get moisture on the fan motor.
- Put the top back on and turn on the power.
Low Refrigerant Levels
When cooling systems don’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your space.
Here are several flags that your system is seeping refrigerant:
- It takes a long time to refresh your house and you’re regularly turning down the thermostat.
- Air coming through the vents isn’t as chilly as it should be.
- You’re hearing whistling or burbling racket when cooling works.
- Your evaporator coil is frozen as a result of having difficulty taking on warmth.
Think your unit is losing refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service specialist to take care of the leak and restore the correct level of refrigerant in your unit. Contact us at 724-370-0141 for assistance.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it seems like you’re not receiving ample amounts of chilled air, there’s possibly a clog or separation somewhere in your cooling system.
- The beginning stage is looking at your air filter. Get a new one if it’s filthy.
- Then ensure the ductwork is free around your rooms.
- If you’re still not experiencing ample chilly air, you should have your ductwork inspected by a pro like Kowalski Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. Your ductwork could need to be fixed or reconnected in tricky areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.