Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of explanations why your air conditioning won’t run: a blown circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Your air conditioning won’t start when you have a tripped breaker.
To find out if one has blown, find your house’s main electrical panel. You can find this silver fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Confirm your hands and feet are free of moisture before you touch the panel or breakers.
- Find the breaker labeled “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s tripped, the lever will be in the "off" position.
- Firmly transfer the switch back to the “on” spot. If it immediately triggers again, don’t touch it and get in touch with us at 314-325-7552. A breaker that keeps turning off might signal your home has electrical trouble.
Inaccurate Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t telling your system to start, it won’t activate.
The most important point is ensuring it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC might not start running. You may also receive warm air moving from vents being the heat is going instead.
If you’re using a regular thermostat:
- Swap out the batteries if the monitor is empty. If the screen is displaying scrambled characters, replace the thermostat.
- Check the right program is showing. If you can’t alter it, cancel it by decreasing the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if programming is incorrect.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is identical to the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set accurately, you should begin getting refreshing air quickly.
If you’re using a smart thermostat, such as one manufactured 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 314-325-7552 for support.
Shut-Off Switch
Your system probably has a shut-off lever by its condenser. This device is commonly in a metal box mounted on your residence. If your equipment has recently been serviced, the lever may have accidentally been turned off.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans keep the extra water your system takes out of the air. This pan can be positioned either beneath or inside your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a clog or backed up drain, water can become concentrated and prompt a safety control to stop your system.
If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the extra liquid with a custom pan-cleaning capsule. You can purchase these tabs at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan involves a pump, look for the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you could need to get a new pump. Contact us at 314-325-7552 for support.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your air conditioner is working but not delivering cold air, its airflow may be obstructed. Or it could not have adequate refrigerant.
Clogged Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be restricted by a plugged air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A dusty filter can lead to numerous problems, like:
- Reduced comfort
- Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Intermittent cooling
- Increased energy costs
- Leading your system to break down faster
We propose changing flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last replaced your filter, shut off your AC completely and take out the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be located in an adjoining filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.
Tilt the filter up to your light fixture. If you can’t see through it, you need to buy a new filter.
4 Steps to Cleaning Your AC Unit
Weeds, grass and leaves can get in the way of your condensing system. This could restrict its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your system operating well again.
- Shut off electricity fully at the breaker or outdoor device.
- Remove greenery rubbish around the air conditioner. Once you’ve removed bigger refuse within a two-foot space, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dust from the unit’s fins. Warped fins can also impact effectiveness.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully remove gunk off the fins from inside the unit. Be careful to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
- Restore the power.
Low Refrigerant Levels
When cooling systems don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll struggle to remove heat and humidity from the air.
Here are a few symptoms that your system 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 experiencing fizzing or gurgling noises when the AC runs.
- Your evaporator coil is icy on account of having difficulty taking on warmth.
Suspect your unit is seeping refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service expert to fix the leak and refill the right measurement of refrigerant in your equipment. Reach us at 314-325-7552 for support.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it seems like you’re not getting adequate amounts of cold air, there’s likely a clog or separation inside your AC system.
- The beginning step is examining your air filter. Replace it if it’s dirty.
- Make sure the ductwork is open throughout your residence.
- If you’re still not experiencing adequate chilled air, you should have your ductwork inspected by a expert like B & B Heating & Cooling. Your ductwork may need to be fixed or relinked in tricky spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.