Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of causes why your air conditioning won’t cool: a blown circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a turned off switch or a full condensate drain pan.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
Your cooling won’t work when you have an overloaded breaker.
To see if one has blown, locate your home’s main electrical panel. You can locate this metallic box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Confirm your hands and feet are free of moisture before you check the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker marked “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” position. If it’s overloaded, the breaker will be in the "off" position.
- Firmly shift the switch back to the “on” location. If it immediately triggers again, don’t touch it and reach us at 641-316-3360. A switch that keeps tripping might indicate your house has an electrical problem.
Inaccurate Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your system to work, it won’t turn on.
The main point is checking it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning may not turn on. You may also have hot air coming from vents because the furnace is running instead.
If you have a traditional thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the screen is clear. If the readout is presenting jumbled letters, get a new thermostat.
- Ensure the right program is displaying. If you can’t change it, override it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if the configuration is wrong.
- Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat is identical to the space’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set accurately, you should receive cool air fast.
If you have a smart thermostat, like one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you’re still having problems, call us at 641-316-3360 for support.
Shut-Down Switch
Your system typically has a shut-off switch around its outdoor unit. This lever is commonly in a metal box attached to your residence. If your unit has recently been serviced, the switch may have accidentally been turned off.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans hold the additional water your equipment takes out of the air. This pan is located either beneath or within your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a clog or backed up drain, water can become concentrated and trigger a safety setting to switch off your air conditioner.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the extra condensation with a formulated pan-cleaning tab. You can get these capsules at a home improvement or hardware store.
If your pan includes a pump, look for the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you may need to install a new pump. Contact us at 641-316-3360 for support.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is on but not providing cold air, its airflow might be blocked. Or it may not have sufficient refrigerant.
Obstructed Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be reduced by a blocked air filter or dirty condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A dirty filter can cause a lot of troubles, including:
- Reduced cooling
- Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Larger cooling costs
- Making your system break down sooner
We suggest installing new flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t recall when you last replaced your filter, shut off your AC completely and remove the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be found in an adjoining filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.
Tilt the filter up to the light. If you see a lot of dust, you need to replace it.
How to Clean Your AC Unit
Greenery, plants and leaves can get in the way of your condensing equipment. This may reduce its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s how you can get your unit operating smoothly again.
- Shut off the electrical current totally at the breaker or external switch.
- Remove yard waste around the equipment. Once you’ve removed larger refuse within a two-foot space, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to slowly remove dust from the unit’s fins. Deformed fins can also impact effectiveness.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly remove gunk off the fins from inside the system. Don’t get water on the fan motor.
- Turn on the power.
Low Refrigerant Levels
When air conditioning systems don’t have enough refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your residence.
Here are a couple of symptoms that your equipment is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to cool your residence and you’re continually decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
- Air conditioning coming through the registers isn’t as chilly as it should be.
- You’re experiencing whistling or burbling noises when the air conditioning works.
- Your evaporator coil is iced over due to having trouble absorbing warmth.
Worried your unit is seeping refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service specialist to fix the leak and replenish the proper measurement of refrigerant in your system. Reach us at 641-316-3360 for assistance.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not receiving enough cool air, there’s usually an obstruction or detachment somewhere in your air conditioning unit.
- The beginning place is checking your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s filthy.
- Make sure the registers are open across your house.
- If you’re still not getting enough chilled air, you should have your ducts inspected by a expert like B & G HVAC. Your ductwork may need to be repaired or relinked in limited space locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.