Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of explanations why your AC unit won’t work: a tripped circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Your system won’t run when you have a blown breaker.
To determine if one has blown, locate your home’s main electrical panel. You can locate this silver device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Confirm your hands and feet are free of moisture before you touch the panel or breakers.
- Find the breaker identified “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” location. If it’s triggered, the lever will be in the "off" position.
- Steadily move the switch back to the “on” position. If it instantaneously flips again, don’t touch it and contact us at 570-648-0748. A switch that keeps tripping could mean your residence has an electrical problem.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your AC to start, it won’t activate.
The main point is ensuring it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner will probably not switch on. You may also get hot air moving from vents because the heater is going instead.
If you’re using a regular thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the monitor is blank. If the monitor is presenting jumbled characters, buy a new thermostat.
- Ensure the proper program is on the display. If you can’t alter it, override it by decreasing the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if scheduling is wrong.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is set the same as the house’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set accurately, you should start getting chilled air fast.
If you rely on a smart thermostat, including ones made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If it still won’t work, contact us at 570-648-0748 for support.
Shut-Off Switch
Your air conditioner typically has a power-cutting device by its condenser. This device is typically in a metal box mounted on your residence. If your unit has recently been worked on, the device may have unintentionally been turned off.
Overflowing Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans hold the additional liquid your equipment removes from the air. This pan is located either under or in your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a blockage or backed up drain, water can accumulate and trigger a safety setting to stop your unit.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the extra water with a special pan-cleaning tab. You can purchase these capsules at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan involves a pump, locate the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you may need to replace the pump. Reach us at 570-648-0748 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your AC is going but not providing cold air, its airflow could be blocked. Or it might not have adequate refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your system’s airflow can be limited by a blocked air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Put in a New Your Air Filter
A filthy filter can lead to numerous issues, like:
- Reduced comfort
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Higher electricity expenses
- Making your system wear out sooner
We propose replacing flat filters every four weeks, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t recall when you last replaced your filter, switch off your equipment totally and pull out the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be located in an attached filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
Hold the filter up to the sunshine. If you see a lot of dust, you certainly should replace it.
How to Clean Your Air Conditioning System
Weeds, vegetation and leaves can obstruct your condensing unit. This could restrict its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your unit operating properly again.
- Switch off power totally at the breaker or outdoor switch.
- Get rid of vegetation debris around the unit. Once you’ve cleared larger debris within a two-foot range, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to gingerly clean the condenser fins. Deformed fins can also impact performance.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully clean the fins from inside the equipment. Be careful to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
- Turn on the power.
Low Refrigerant Levels
When cooling equipment doesn’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll struggle to remove heat and humidity from your house.
Here are a couple of flags that your equipment is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to refresh your rooms and you’re continually lowering the thermostat.
- Cooling moving through the vents isn’t as cold as it should be.
- You’re hearing whistling or burbling noises when the air conditioning works.
- Your evaporator coil is iced over because it’s having an issue taking on heat.
Think your system is seeping refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service expert to take care of the leak and replenish the correct measurement of refrigerant in your equipment. Call us at 570-648-0748 for assistance.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not having enough cool air, there’s possibly an obstruction or disconnection within your AC unit.
- The first stage is examining your air filter. Replace it if it’s dirty.
- Make sure the registers are open across your home.
- If you’re still not receiving sufficient chilly air, you should have your duct system inspected by a pro like LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc.. Your duct system may need to be fixed or relinked in hard-to-reach locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.