Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a few reasons why your central AC system won’t work: a blown circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a shut off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Your cooling won’t run when you have a blown breaker.
To find out if one has gotten overloaded, find your residence’s main electrical panel. You can find this metallic box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Confirm your hands and feet aren’t wet before you work on the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker marked “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” location. If it’s tripped, the breaker will be in the "off" position.
- Firmly move the lever back to the “on” position. If it instantaneously triggers again, leave it alone and reach us at (815)914-6197. A fuse that keeps flipping may signal your house has an electrical issue.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t telling your equipment to start, it won’t activate.
The main point is checking it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC may not turn on. You may also have heated air moving from vents because the heater is on instead.
If you’re using a digital thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the monitor is blank. If the screen is showing jumbled characters, get a new thermostat.
- Ensure the right option is on the display. If you can’t alter it, override it by dropping the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if scheduling is not right.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat matches the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set properly, you should receive refreshing air fast.
If you’re using a smart thermostat, such as one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you’re still having problems, call us at (815)914-6197 for help.
Shut-Off Switch
Your cooling equipment usually has a shut-down switch near its condenser. This switch is commonly in a metal box hung on your house. If your equipment has recently been worked on, the lever may have unintentionally been turned off.
Blocked Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans keep the additional condensation your system removes from the air. This pan is located either beneath or within your furnace or air handler.
When there’s an obstruction or clogged drain, water can build up and trigger a safety control to stop your equipment.
If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the surplus liquid with a custom pan-cleaning capsule. You can get these tabs at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan includes a pump, look for the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you could need to get a new pump. Reach us at (815)914-6197 for assistance.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your AC is going but not providing cold air, its airflow could be blocked. Or it may not have adequate refrigerant.
Clogged Airflow
Your system’s airflow can be reduced by a clogged air filter or dirty condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A filthy filter can create a lot of troubles, including:
- Limited airflow
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Larger cooling bills
- Making your system break down faster
We recommend installing new 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 AC fully and pull out the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be found in an adjoining filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see any light, you need to replace it.
How to Clean Your Air Conditioning System
Weeds, grass and shrubbery can obstruct your condensing system. This could restrict its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your system operating properly again.
- Turn off the electrical current fully at the breaker or external switch.
- Get rid of yard debris around the air conditioner. Once you’ve gotten rid of larger refuse within a two-foot space, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dirt from the unit’s fins. Distorted fins can also impact efficiency.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully take off dirt on the fins from inside the equipment. Don’t get moisture on the fan motor.
- Turn on the power.
Low Refrigerant Levels
When cooling units don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your rooms.
Here are several signs that your equipment is seeping refrigerant:
- It takes a long time to cool your rooms and you’re continually decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
- Air blowing through the ducts isn’t as cold as it should be.
- You’re hearing whistling or bubbling racket when cooling runs.
- Your evaporator coil is iced over due to having difficulty handling heat.
Think your unit is seeping refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service professional to take care of the leak and refill the right measurement of refrigerant in your equipment. Reach us at (815)914-6197 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not having ample amounts of cold air, there’s probably an obstruction or detachment within your cooling unit.
- The initial step is checking your air filter. Replace it if it’s soiled.
- Make sure the vents are open around your residence.
- If you’re still not receiving sufficient chilly air, you should have your ducts checked by a expert like Temperature Doctors Heating & Cooling, Inc. Your duct system might need to be serviced or rejoined in difficult areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.