Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be several causes why your central AC system won’t start: an overloaded circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Your cooling won’t turn on when you have a blown breaker.
To find out if one has tripped, find your house’s main electrical panel. You can locate this metallic device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Make sure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you check the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker marked “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” position. If it’s overloaded, the breaker will be in the "off" position.
- Firmly shift the lever back to the “on” spot. If it instantaneously flips again, don’t reset it and contact us at 484-646-3363. A fuse that keeps flipping could signal your house has electrical trouble.
Inaccurate Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your AC to start, it won’t turn on.
The most important step is making sure it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner may not turn on. You might also receive hot air coming from vents because the furnace is going instead.
If you’re using a traditional thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the readout is blank. If the screen is showing jumbled letters, replace the thermostat.
- Ensure the right setting is showing. If you can’t change it, reverse it by lowering the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if programming is wrong.
- Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees below the space’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 begin getting chilled air promptly.
If you have a smart thermostat, such as one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you’re still having problems, contact us at 484-646-3363 for help.
Shut-Off Switch
Your system probably has a shut-down switch around its condenser. This switch is generally in a metal box attached to your home. If your air conditioner has recently been maintained, the device may have unintentionally been turned off.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans keep the surplus liquid your equipment takes out of the air. This pan can be positioned either below or inside your furnace or air handler.
When there’s an obstruction or backed up drain, water can accumulate and trigger a safety control to switch off your equipment.
If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the additional liquid with a custom pan-cleaning capsule. You can get these tablets at a home improvement or hardware store.
If your pan involves a pump, find the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you may need to install a new pump. Call us at 484-646-3363 for assistance.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your AC is running but not cooling, its airflow could be blocked. Or it may not have adequate refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your system’s airflow can be restricted by a clogged air filter or filthy condenser.
How to Change Your Air Filter
A dusty filter can lead to countless problems, including:
- Limited comfort
- Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Inconsistent cooling
- Larger electricity costs
- Leading your system to wear out sooner
We propose changing flat filters monthly, and pleated filters every three months.
If you aren’t sure when you last replaced your filter, switch off your AC fully and remove 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 holder or wall-mounted return air grille.
Tilt the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see through it, you should get a new one.
4 Tips on Cleaning Your Air Conditioning Unit
Greenery, grass and leaves 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 way you can get your system operating properly again.
- Turn off electricity totally at the breaker or outside device.
- Clear vegetation waste around the air conditioner. Once you’ve removed larger debris within a two-foot range, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to slowly remove dirt from the condenser fins. Crooked fins can also affect efficiency.
- Use a hose nozzle to gingerly remove gunk off the fins from inside the equipment. Make sure to avoid getting water on the fan motor.
- Restore the power.
Leaking Refrigerant
When AC systems don’t have enough refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from the air.
Here are a couple of indications that your system is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes too long to cool your house and you’re regularly turning down the thermostat.
- Air moving through the registers isn’t as chilled as it should be.
- You’re hearing fizzing or bubbling racket when the air conditioning runs.
- Your evaporator coil is frosty as a result of having difficulty handling humidity.
Worried your equipment is leaking refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service specialist to fix the leak and restore the correct measurement of refrigerant in your system. Reach us at 484-646-3363 for assistance.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not getting adequate amounts of cold air, there’s usually a clog or detachment within your cooling equipment.
- The beginning place is looking at your air filter. Replace it if it’s soiled.
- Make sure the ductwork is open across your house.
- If you’re still not experiencing enough cold air, you should have your duct system examined by a professional like Moyer Total Indoor Comfort. Your duct system could need to be fixed or reconnected in hard-to-reach spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.