Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Marshalltown, Iowa, can appear like a lot of hassle.

There’s a better way. There are several quick remedies you can attempt by yourself that might help you get out of an AC service call.

When you’re having air conditioning issues, try this checklist before calling a heating and cooling repair professional like B & G HVAC.

Our experts are standing by at 641-316-3360 when you need expert service. We have emergency AC repair and work on most brands of central AC equipment.

If you want to get an up to date air conditioner, we also provide AC installation.

When you’re in contact with us, contemplate a yearly AC maintenance plan that may help you keep clear of future malfunctions. We can advise how often you need air conditioner service.

Ready to get started troubleshooting your system? Try our fast tips below. Many of these procedures don’t require any HVAC knowledge.

Air Conditioner Repair Checklist

1. AC Won’t Turn On

There can be a few explanations why your air conditioning system won’t cool: a triggered circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.

Tripped Circuit Breaker

Your cooling won’t work when you have a tripped breaker.

To determine if one has blown, find your residence’s main electrical panel. You can locate this silver device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

  • Confirm your hands and feet aren’t wet before you touch the panel or breakers.
  • Locate the breaker labeled “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” position. If it’s overloaded the breaker will be in the middle or “off” location.
  • Steadily move the lever back to the “on” location. If it immediately trips again, leave it alone and contact us at 641-316-3360. A fuse that keeps turning off might indicate your residence has an electrical issue.

Inaccurate Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your equipment to run, it won’t switch on.

The most important step is ensuring it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning will probably not start running. Or you could receive. warm air moving from vents because the furnace is going instead.

If you’re using a regular thermostat:

  • Swap out the batteries if the readout is blank. If the screen is displaying scrambled characters, get a new thermostat.
  • Check the right setting is on the display. If you can’t change it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and pressing 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 work if the thermostat is identical to the space’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is adjusted accurately, you should start getting cold air quickly.

If you have a smart thermostat, including ones produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If it still won’t work, reach us at 641-316-3360 for help.

Shut-Off Switch

Your system probably has a shut-off device around its condenser. This switch is typically in a metal box mounted on your house. If your unit has recently been maintained, the switch may have inadvertently been put in the “off” location.

Overflowing Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans hold the extra water your AC pulls from the air. This pan can be situated either beneath or within your furnace or air handler.

When there’s an obstruction or clogged drain, water can accumulate and prompt a safety feature to turn off your equipment.

If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the extra water with a custom pan-cleaning tab. You can buy these tablets at a home improvement or hardware retailer.

If your pan involves a pump, find the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you might have to get a new pump. Contact us at 641-316-3360 for assistance.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your AC is running but not delivering cold air, its airflow might be blocked. Or it might not have adequate refrigerant.

Blocked Airflow

Your equipment’s airflow can be restricted by a clogged air filter or filthy condenser.

How to Change Your Air Filter

A dirty filter can create a lot of problems, like:

  • Limited cooling
  • Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Intermittent cooling
  • Higher cooling bills
  • Leading your system to wear out more quickly

We suggest replacing flat filters monthly, and pleated filters every three months.

If you can’t recall when you last installed a new one, switch off your AC completely and take out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be found in an adjoining filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.

Hold the filter up to your light fixture. If you see a lot of dust you should buy a new filter.

4 Steps to Cleaning Your Air Conditioning Unit

Greenery, plants and shrubbery can obstruct your condensing system. This can reduce its airflow, make it less energy efficient and change your comfort. Here’s how you can get your system running well again.

  1. Shut off power fully at the breaker or outside switch.
  2. Remove vegetation rubbish around the unit. Once you’ve cleared all the refuse within a two-foot area, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dust from the unit’s fins. Warped fins can also hurt capability, so you can attempt to correct them with a small knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to carefully take off dirt on the fins from inside the system. Don’t get water on the fan motor.
  4. Put the top back on and restore the power.

Not Enough Refrigerant

When AC equipment doesn’t have enough refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your rooms.

Here are several flags that your system is seeping refrigerant:

  1. It takes too long to refresh your home and you’re constantly decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
  2. Air conditioning moving through the vents isn’t as chilly as it should be.
  3. You’re hearing fizzing or gurgling sounds when the AC works.
  4. Your evaporator coil is frozen as a result of having difficulty absorbing heat.

Think your unit is seeping refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service professional to fix the leak and restore the proper level of refrigerant in your equipment. Call us at 641-316-3360 for assistance.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it appears like you’re not getting adequate amounts of chilled air, there’s usually a blockage or detachment within your air conditioning equipment.

  • The first place is looking at your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s dusty.
  • Then make sure the vents are clear across your house.
  • If you’re still not experiencing ample chilled air, you should have your duct system examined by a specialist like B & G HVAC. Your ductwork may need to be fixed or relinked in difficult locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.

Request Pro Air Conditioner Repair Now

When you require air conditioning service quickly, contact the HVAC repair experts at B & G HVAC at 641-316-3360. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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