Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a few reasons why your AC equipment won’t run: a blown circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Triggered Circuit Breaker
Your AC won’t work when you have a blown breaker.
To determine if one has tripped, find your home’s main electrical panel. You can locate this silver fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you touch the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker marked “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s tripped, the switch will be in the middle of the panel or “off” location.
- Firmly shift the breaker back to the “on” location. If it instantaneously flips again, don’t touch it and call us at 203-772-8319. A switch that keeps flipping may indicate your home has electrical trouble.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your equipment to start, it won’t switch on.
The first part is making sure it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning may not start running. Or you could have hot air blowing from vents being the furnace is on instead.
If you rely on a digital thermostat:
- Swap out the batteries if the readout is empty. If the monitor is presenting scrambled letters, buy a new thermostat.
- Make sure the proper mode is on the display. If you can’t update it, cancel it by dropping the temperature and hitting 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 start if the thermostat matches the space’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is adjusted properly, you should begin getting refreshing air fast.
If you have a smart thermostat, including ones produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you’re still having problems, call us at 203-772-8319 for help.
Turn-Off Switch
Your cooling equipment probably has a shut-down device by its condenser. This device is typically in a metal box mounted on your house. If your unit has recently been worked on, the device may have unintentionally been placed in the “off” setting.
Blocked Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans keep the additional liquid your equipment takes out of the air. This pan can be found either beneath or inside your furnace or air handler.
When there’s an obstruction or backed up drain, water can build up and trigger a safety feature to stop your unit.
If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the extra liquid with a special pan-cleaning tab. You can get these tablets at a home improvement or hardware shop.
If your pan has a pump, find the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you could need to replace the pump. Call us at 203-772-8319 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is going but not delivering cold air, its airflow may be obstructed. Or it could not have adequate refrigerant.
Obstructed Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be decreased by a blocked air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Change Your Air Filter
A dirty filter can cause countless problems, like:
- Limited comfort
- Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Increased electricity bills
- Leading your system to wear out more quickly
We propose changing flat filters every four weeks, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last changed yours, shut off your AC fully and take out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be located in an adjoining filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
Hold the filter up to the light. If you see a lot of dust, you need to buy a new filter.
5 Steps to Cleaning Your Cooling Unit
Brush, grass and shrubbery can obstruct your condensing equipment. This could reduce its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your system operating properly again.
- Turn off power completely at the breaker or external lever.
- Get rid of plant waste around the AC. Once you’ve removed bigger debris within a two-foot range, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dirt from the equipment’s fins. Misshapen fins can also impact capability, so you can attempt to adjust them with a small knife.
- Lift off the upper part of your AC and pull out any leaves or yard waste that has accumulated. Then clean the condenser fan with a damp cloth.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly take off dirt on the fins from inside the system. Be careful to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
- Install the top again and turn on the power.
Not Enough Refrigerant
When AC units don’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from the air.
Here are several signs that your system is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to cool your residence and you’re constantly turning down the thermostat.
- Air blowing through the registers isn’t as cold as it should be.
- You’re hearing hissing or bubbling racket when cooling runs.
- Your evaporator coil is frosted on account of having difficulty handling warmth.
Suspect your system is losing refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service expert to fix the leak and replenish the correct measurement of refrigerant in your equipment. Contact us at 203-772-8319 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it feels like you’re not receiving adequate amounts of cold air, there’s possibly a clog or detachment inside your cooling system.
- The initial place is examining your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s soiled.
- Then make sure the ductwork is open across your house.
- If you’re still not experiencing ample cold air, you should have your duct system inspected by a professional like Giordanos Heating and Air Conditioning. Your ducts could need to be fixed or relinked in hard-to-reach spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.