Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be several reasons why your AC unit won’t cool: a blown circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a shut off switch or a full condensate drain pan.
Triggered Circuit Breaker
Your system won’t work when you have a blown breaker.
To determine if one has blown, find your home’s main electrical panel. You can spot this gray box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet are dry before you work on the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker identified “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s triggered, the lever will be in the "off" position.
- Steadily transfer the lever back to the “on” location. If it instantly triggers again, don’t touch it and call us at 540-636-3396. A switch that keeps tripping could signal your home has electrical trouble.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your air conditioner to run, it won’t switch on.
The main part is checking it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner may not turn on. You might also receive heated air moving from vents since the heat is going instead.
If you’re using a regular thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the monitor is clear. If the readout is displaying scrambled numbers, replace the thermostat.
- Check the right setting is showing. If you can’t alter it, reverse it by lowering the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if programming is wrong.
- Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is identical to the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set correctly, you should receive refreshing air fast.
If you have a smart thermostat, including ones manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for help. If you’re still having problems, reach us at 540-636-3396 for support.
Shut-Off Switch
Your air conditioner typically has a power-cutting device by its condenser. This device is generally in a metal box mounted on your home. If your equipment has recently been maintained, the lever may have inadvertently been turned off.
Blocked Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans keep the surplus liquid your system pulls from the air. This pan can be positioned either under or in your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a blockage or backed up drain, water can build up and initiate a safety feature to stop your air conditioner.
If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the extra condensation with a custom pan-cleaning capsule. You can buy these tabs at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan has a pump, look for the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you might have to get a new pump. Contact us at 540-636-3396 for assistance.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your equipment is running but not cooling, its airflow may be obstructed. Or it might not have sufficient refrigerant.
Clogged Airflow
Your unit’s airflow can be limited by a blocked air filter or filthy condenser.
How to Change Your Air Filter
A dirty filter can cause a lot of troubles, such as:
- Reduced airflow
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Intermittent cooling
- Higher energy expenses
- Leading your system to wear out faster
We recommend replacing flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.
If you aren’t sure when you last replaced your filter, switch off your equipment totally and take out the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be located in an attached filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to the light. If you see a lot of dust, you certainly should replace it.
How to Clean Your Air Conditioning Equipment
Weeds, vegetation and leaves can block your condensing unit. This may reduce its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your unit running properly again.
- Shut off the electrical current totally at the breaker or external device.
- Clear plant rubbish around the equipment. Once you’ve cleared bigger debris within a two-foot range, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to gingerly clean the condenser fins. Warped fins can also impact performance.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully clean the fins from inside the equipment. Be careful to avoid getting water on the fan motor.
- Restore the power.
Leaking Refrigerant
When AC units don’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from the air.
Here are several symptoms that your unit is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to lower the temperature in your rooms and you’re constantly lowering the thermostat.
- Air moving through the registers isn’t as cold as it should be.
- You’re noticing whistling or gurgling noises when the air conditioning is on.
- Your evaporator coil is frosted on account of having difficulty taking on humidity.
Think your equipment is seeping refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service specialist to fix the leak and restore the proper level of refrigerant in your system. Get in touch with us at 540-636-3396 for support.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it feels like you’re not having adequate amounts of chilled air, there’s potentially a clog or separation within your AC equipment.
- The beginning stage is looking at your air filter. Get a new one if it’s dirty.
- Make sure the ductwork is open around your residence.
- If you’re still not experiencing enough cold air, you should have your duct system inspected by a pro like Dave's Diversified Services. Your duct system could need to be fixed or rejoined in hard-to-reach locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.