Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Front Royal, Virginia, 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 Dave's Diversified Services.

Our experts are standing by at 540-636-3396 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 several explanations why your air conditioning won’t cool: a triggered circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.

Blown Circuit Breaker

Your system won’t run when you have a tripped breaker.

To see if one has gotten overloaded, locate your home’s main electrical panel. You can spot this gray device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

  • Make sure your hands and feet are dry before you check the panel or breakers.
  • Locate the breaker identified “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” position. If it’s tripped the breaker will be in the middle or “off” location.
  • Steadily shift the breaker back to the “on” position. If it instantly flips again, don’t reset it and call us at 540-636-3396. A fuse that keeps flipping may indicate your home has an electrical issue.

Incorrect Thermostat Settings

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

The most important part is checking it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC might not turn on. Or you could have. heated air blowing from vents because the heat is going instead.

If you rely on a digital thermostat:

  • Put in new batteries if the screen is empty. If the readout is displaying garbled numbers, replace the thermostat.
  • Ensure the proper mode is displaying. If you can’t alter it, reverse it by dropping the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if the configuration is wrong.
  • Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is identical to the house’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is calibrated properly, you should begin getting cool air promptly.

If you have a smart thermostat, including ones manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you’re still having problems, contact us at 540-636-3396 for assistance.

Shut-Off Switch

Your system probably has a power-cutting lever by its condenser. This device is generally in a metal box mounted on your home. If your air conditioner has recently been repaired, the lever may have inadvertently been placed in the “off” position.

Blocked Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans hold the surplus water your system takes out of the air. This pan can be found either under or in your furnace or air handler.

When there’s an obstruction or blocked drain, water can build up and prompt a safety feature to switch off your unit.

If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the extra liquid with a special pan-cleaning capsule. You can get these tablets at a home improvement or hardware retailer.

If your pan involves a pump, locate the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you might have to replace the pump. Contact us at 540-636-3396 for assistance.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your AC is running but not cooling, its airflow might be clogged. Or it could not have enough refrigerant.

Blocked Airflow

Your equipment’s airflow can be decreased by a blocked air filter or dirty condenser.

How to Put in a New Your Air Filter

A filthy filter can lead to numerous problems, such as:

  • Reduced cooling
  • Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Intermittent cooling
  • Higher energy expenses
  • Leading your system to stop working more quickly

We propose replacing flat filters once a month, and creased filters every three months.

If you can’t remember when you last replaced yours, turn off your unit 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 a connected filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.

Hold the filter up to your light fixture. If you can’t see any light you need to replace it.

How to Clean Your Air Conditioning System

Weeds, grass and sticks can block your condensing unit. This can limit its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your system working well again.

  1. Switch off power fully at the breaker or external device.
  2. Clear greenery debris around the AC. Once you’ve gotten rid of larger refuse within a two-foot range, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to carefully remove dirt from the unit’s fins. Deformed fins can also hurt efficiency, so you can attempt to reshape them with a blunt knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to gingerly take off dirt on the fins from inside the equipment. Be careful to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
  4. Install the top again and turn the power back on.

Insufficient Refrigerant

When cooling units don’t have enough refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your house.

Here are several signs that your equipment is losing refrigerant:

  1. It takes a long time to lower the temperature in your rooms and you’re constantly decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
  2. Air conditioning moving through the vents isn’t as cold as it should be.
  3. You’re noticing fizzing or bubbling sounds when the AC is on.
  4. Your evaporator coil is frosted due to having difficulty taking on warmth.

Think your unit is leaking refrigerant? You need a qualified heating and cooling service professional to take care of the leak and refill the proper measurement of refrigerant in your unit. Get in touch with us at 540-636-3396 for support.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it appears like you’re not having adequate amounts of cool air, there’s probably a clog or disconnection within your AC system.

  • The initial step is examining your air filter. Replace it if it’s soiled.
  • Then check the registers are clear across your home.
  • If you’re still not receiving sufficient chilly air, you should have your duct system examined by a professional like Dave's Diversified Services. Your ducts might need to be repaired or hooked up again in tricky areas 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 Dave's Diversified Services at 540-636-3396. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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