Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be several causes why your air conditioning system won’t cool: a tripped circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Your cooling won’t turn on when you have a tripped breaker.
To check if one has gotten overloaded, find your residence’s main electrical panel. You can find this gray box 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.
- Locate the breaker labeled “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s tripped, the lever will be in the "off" position.
- Steadily transfer the switch back to the “on” position. If it immediately trips again, leave it alone and call us at 937-558-9478. A switch that keeps flipping might indicate your house has an electrical issue.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your equipment to start, it won’t activate.
The most important part is making sure it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC might not start running. You might also have warm air coming from vents because the heat is running instead.
If you rely on a digital thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the screen is clear. If the screen is showing jumbled characters, get a new thermostat.
- Ensure the right mode is displaying. If you can’t update it, override it by dropping the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if the configuration is not right.
- Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees cooler than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is identical to the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is adjusted accurately, you should receive cool air promptly.
If you rely on a smart thermostat, like one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you still can’t get it to work, contact us at 937-558-9478 for assistance.
Shut-Down Switch
Your system typically has a shut-off switch near its outdoor unit. This lever is typically in a metal box attached to your house. If your unit has recently been repaired, the lever may have unintentionally been turned off.
Overflowing Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans catch the extra liquid your air conditioner removes from the air. This pan can be positioned either under or within your furnace or air handler.
When there’s an obstruction or backed up drain, water can accumulate and initiate a safety setting to turn off your equipment.
If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the surplus liquid with a formulated pan-cleaning tablet. You can purchase these tabs at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan involves a pump, find the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you could need to get a new pump. Reach us at 937-558-9478 for assistance.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your air conditioner is on but not cooling, its airflow might be clogged. Or it could not have sufficient refrigerant.
Clogged Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be decreased by a blocked air filter or filthy condenser.
How to Change Your Air Filter
A dusty filter can cause a lot of issues, such as:
- Lower cooling
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Inconsistent cooling
- Increased energy expenses
- Making your system wear out more quickly
We recommend installing new flat filters monthly, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last replaced your filter, switch off your AC completely and remove the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be situated in a connected filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.
Hold the filter up to the light. If you can’t see any light, you certainly should get a new one.
4 Tips on Cleaning Your Air Conditioning Equipment
Weeds, plants and bushes can block your condensing unit. This can restrict its airflow, make it less energy efficient and impact your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your equipment running smoothly again.
- Shut off power totally at the breaker or external switch.
- Clear yard waste around the equipment. Once you’ve cleared bigger clutter within a two-foot radius, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to carefully remove dirt from the unit’s fins. Warped fins can also affect performance.
- 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.
- Restore the power.
Insufficient Refrigerant
When air conditioning units don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your space.
Here are several signs that your unit is seeping refrigerant:
- It takes too long to refresh your house and you’re constantly lowering the thermostat.
- Air conditioning blowing through the registers isn’t as chilly as it should be.
- You’re experiencing whistling or gurgling noises when the air conditioning runs.
- Your evaporator coil is frosted as a result of having an issue taking on heat.
Worried your equipment is leaking refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service professional to take care of the leak and refill the right measurement of refrigerant in your equipment. Call us at 937-558-9478 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it seems like you’re not getting enough chilled air, there’s usually a clog or detachment somewhere in your air conditioning unit.
- The first place is checking your air filter. Get a new one if it’s dirty.
- Make sure the ductwork is open throughout your residence.
- If you’re still not getting ample chilled air, you should have your ductwork checked by a pro like Edington Heating & Cooling Inc. Your ducts may need to be fixed or reconnected in difficult areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.