Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Shamokin and Sunbury, Pennsylvania, 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 LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc..

Our experts are standing by at 570-648-0748 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 causes why your central AC system won’t cool: a blown circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.

Blown Circuit Breaker

Your AC won’t work when you have a blown breaker.

To find out if one has tripped, find your house’s main electrical panel. You can find this gray fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

  • Ensure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you work on the panel or breakers.
  • Look for the breaker labeled “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s overloaded the breaker will be in the in between or “off” spot.
  • Steadily transfer the switch back to the “on” spot. If it immediately trips again, don’t touch it and contact us at 570-648-0748. A switch that keeps flipping may mean your home has an electrical problem.

Wrong Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t signaling your AC to work, it won’t activate.

The most important part is checking it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC will probably not start running. Or you could have. heated air blowing from vents because the furnace is running instead.

If you have a regular thermostat:

  • Put in new batteries if the readout is clear. If the monitor is showing jumbled characters, buy a new thermostat.
  • Check the correct option is showing. If you can’t alter it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if scheduling is incorrect.
  • Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat matches the room’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is set correctly, you should begin getting refreshing air promptly.

If you have a smart thermostat, including ones produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for help. If you still can’t get it to work, contact us at 570-648-0748 for help.

Shut-Off Switch

Your cooling equipment usually has a shut-off lever around its outside unit. This lever is typically in a metal box mounted on your residence. If your air conditioner has recently been worked on, the device may have inadvertently been left in the “off” location.

Clogged Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans catch the additional condensation your equipment takes out of the air. This pan can be situated either under or inside your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a clog or blocked drain, water can become concentrated and prompt a safety control to switch off your unit.

If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the extra liquid with a formulated pan-cleaning capsule. You can get these capsules at a home improvement or hardware retailer.

If your pan involves a pump, find the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you might have to install a new pump. Contact us at 570-648-0748 for assistance.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

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

Clogged Airflow

Your unit’s airflow can be restricted by a plugged air filter or filthy condenser.

How to Change Your Air Filter

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

  • Reduced airflow
  • Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Intermittent cooling
  • Increased electricity costs
  • Causing your system to break down faster

We recommend installing new flat filters monthly, and accordion filters every three months.

If you can’t remember when you last replaced yours, turn off your system fully and remove the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be found in an attached filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.

Angle the filter up to the light. If you can’t see through it you need to buy a new filter.

How to Clean Your AC Unit

Brush, grass and shrubbery can block your condensing unit. This could restrict its airflow, make it less energy efficient and impact your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your unit working properly again.

  1. Switch off the electrical current completely at the breaker or outdoor device.
  2. Get rid of greenery waste around the AC. Once you’ve removed larger clutter within a two-foot space, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to carefully remove dust from the condenser fins. Deformed fins can also hurt efficiency, so you can attempt to straighten them with a dinner knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to gingerly remove gunk off the fins from inside the system. Be careful to avoid getting water on the fan motor.
  4. Install the top again and turn the power back on.

Leaking Refrigerant

When cooling units don’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your space.

Here are a few symptoms that your system is losing refrigerant:

  1. It takes an extended amount of time to lower the temperature in your rooms and you’re continually lowering the thermostat.
  2. Air moving through the registers isn’t as chilly as it should be.
  3. You’re hearing fizzing or burbling racket when the air conditioning works.
  4. Your evaporator coil is icy on account of having trouble absorbing warmth.

Worried your unit is leaking refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service specialist to repair the leak and replenish the correct amount of refrigerant in your system. Reach us at 570-648-0748 for support.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it appears like you’re not having enough cool air, there’s potentially an obstruction or separation within your AC system.

  • The beginning place is examining your air filter. Get a new one if it’s filthy.
  • Then ensure the registers are open across your residence.
  • If you’re still not getting adequate chilled air, you should have your ducts examined by a expert like LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc.. Your duct system may need to be serviced or relinked in limited space spots 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 LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc. at 570-648-0748. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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