Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a few reasons why your air conditioning system won’t work: a blown circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Triggered Circuit Breaker
Your AC won’t run when you have a blown breaker.
To determine if one has tripped, find your home’s main electrical panel. You can spot this metallic box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Make sure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you check the panel or breakers.
- Locate the breaker labeled “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” location. If it’s triggered, the lever will be in the "off" position.
- Steadily transfer the lever back to the “on” spot. If it instantly flips again, leave it alone and get in touch with us at 928-432-6018. A switch that keeps tripping might signal your house has an electrical issue.
Inaccurate Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t telling your air conditioner to work, it won’t turn on.
The first part is checking it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning might not turn on. You could also have heated air blowing from vents since the heater is running instead.
If you have a regular thermostat:
- Swap out the batteries if the screen is blank. If the readout is presenting scrambled letters, get a new thermostat.
- Ensure the right option is on the display. If you can’t alter it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if the configuration is incorrect.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is identical to the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is adjusted accurately, you should receive chilled air quickly.
If you have a smart thermostat, such as one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for help. If it still won’t work, contact us at 928-432-6018 for assistance.
Shut-Off Switch
Your cooling equipment probably has a power-cutting lever around its outdoor unit. This switch is commonly in a metal box mounted on your residence. If your AC has recently been maintained, the switch may have unintentionally been turned off.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans catch the additional liquid your AC pulls from the air. This pan can be positioned either beneath or within your furnace or air handler.
When there’s an obstruction or blocked drain, water can accumulate and prompt a safety feature to stop your system.
If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the surplus liquid with a custom pan-cleaning tablet. You can buy 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 water in the pan, you might have to replace the pump. Contact us at 928-432-6018 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your equipment is working but not providing cold air, its airflow might be obstructed. Or it could not have enough refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be restricted by a blocked air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Change Your Air Filter
A filthy filter can create countless problems, including:
- Limited comfort
- Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Intermittent cooling
- Increased cooling costs
- Making your system stop working more quickly
We propose installing new flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t recall when you last replaced your filter, switch off your equipment completely and pull out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be situated in a connected filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to the light. If you see a lot of dust, you should get a new one.
4 Tips on Cleaning Your AC Equipment
Weeds, plants and shrubbery can block your condensing unit. This could restrict its airflow, make it less energy efficient and affect your comfort. Here’s how you can get your unit running smoothly again.
- Turn off power fully at the breaker or external switch.
- Remove yard waste around the AC. Once you’ve gotten rid of bigger refuse within a two-foot area, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to slowly clean the unit’s fins. Bent fins can also impact performance.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly clean the fins from inside the equipment. Don’t get moisture on the fan motor.
- Turn on the power.
Leaking Refrigerant
When cooling equipment doesn’t have enough refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your rooms.
Here are a few flags that your unit is losing refrigerant:
- It takes too long to lower the temperature in your rooms and you’re regularly lowering the thermostat.
- Air conditioning blowing through the vents isn’t as chilled as it should be.
- You’re noticing hissing or gurgling racket when cooling is on.
- Your evaporator coil is frosty as a result of having trouble handling warmth.
Worried your equipment is leaking refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service specialist to fix the leak and restore the right measurement of refrigerant in your equipment. Contact us at 928-432-6018 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it feels like you’re not having enough cold air, there’s likely a blockage or separation inside your air conditioning unit.
- The first stage is looking at your air filter. Replace it if it’s dirty.
- Make sure the vents are open around your home.
- If you’re still not receiving enough chilly air, you should have your duct system inspected by a expert like B&D Air Conditioning. Your duct system could need to be serviced or relinked in tricky locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.