Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of explanations why your AC equipment won’t start: a triggered circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
Your air conditioning won’t work when you have a tripped breaker.
To see if one has tripped, locate your home’s main electrical panel. You can find this gray fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet are dry before you touch the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker marked “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s triggered, the lever will be in the "off" position.
- Steadily move the switch back to the “on” location. If it instantaneously triggers again, don’t reset it and reach us at (616) 319-1436. A fuse that keeps turning off could signal your house has an electrical problem.
Inaccurate Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your system to start, it won’t switch on.
The most important step is making sure it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner might not turn on. You could also get warm air moving from vents being the heater is running instead.
If you rely on a regular thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the monitor is clear. If the monitor is displaying scrambled letters, buy a new thermostat.
- Ensure the right program is displaying. If you can’t change it, override it by dropping the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if the configuration is incorrect.
- Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees cooler than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is set the same as the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set correctly, you should start getting refreshing air quickly.
If you’re using a smart thermostat, like one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for help. If it still won’t work, call us at (616) 319-1436 for assistance.
Turn-Off Switch
Your AC usually has a shut-off device near its outside unit. This switch is generally in a metal box hung on your house. If your equipment has recently been serviced, the device may have unintentionally been turned off.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans catch the additional condensation your AC pulls from the air. This pan is located either beneath or in your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a clog or backed up drain, water can build up and trigger a safety setting to switch off your unit.
If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the additional liquid with a custom pan-cleaning capsule. You can get these capsules at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan includes a pump, locate the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you might have to replace the pump. Reach us at (616) 319-1436 for assistance.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is on but not cooling, its airflow may be blocked. Or it may not have adequate refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be restricted by a plugged air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Put in a New Your Air Filter
A dusty filter can create many troubles, like:
- Limited airflow
- Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Bigger utility costs
- Causing your system to wear out more quickly
We propose 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 completely and pull out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be situated in a connected filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see any light, you certainly should replace it.
How to Clean Your Cooling Equipment
Weeds, vegetation and shrubbery can block your condensing equipment. This could reduce its airflow, make it less energy efficient and affect your comfort. Here’s how you can get your equipment working well again.
- Turn off the electrical current fully at the breaker or external lever.
- Clear vegetation rubbish around the unit. Once you’ve cleared all the clutter within a two-foot space, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to slowly remove dirt from the condenser fins. Bent fins can also affect performance.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully clean the fins from inside the unit. Don’t get liquid on the fan motor.
- Turn on the power.
Low Refrigerant Levels
When air conditioning systems don’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your house.
Here are several signs that your equipment is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes a long time to lower the temperature in your house and you’re continually decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
- Air conditioning blowing through the registers isn’t as cold as it should be.
- You’re hearing hissing or gurgling sounds when cooling works.
- Your evaporator coil is frosty on account of having difficulty handling humidity.
Worried your system is leaking refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service expert to repair the leak and replenish the proper amount of refrigerant in your system. Call us at (616) 319-1436 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it seems like you’re not having ample amounts of chilled air, there’s usually a blockage or detachment inside your air conditioning unit.
- The first place is looking at your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s soiled.
- Make sure the vents are open throughout your home.
- If you’re still not experiencing adequate chilly air, you should have your ducts inspected by a professional like West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services. Your ducts might need to be serviced or hooked up again in hard-to-reach locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.