AC Not Cooling? 10 Troubleshooting Tips For A Broken Air Conditioner
Ten troubleshooting tips for a broken air conditioner
When Angi Lee called us because her air conditioning unit wasn’t working, our Comfort Club technician was on the spot, helping Angi solve her problem. The good news is our AC repair technician was able to fix Angi’s issue quickly and made her house feel cool once again.
As it turns out, the door panel on Angie’s furnace was loose, deactivating the safety door switch, thus rendering her air conditioning and heating system nonworking. This was a simple fix that Angi could have checked herself if she had a list of simple things to check before she desperately called Extreme Comfort.
This is why we compiled a list of 10 troubleshooting tips for a broken air conditioner.
10 Troubleshooting Tips For A Broken Air Conditioner
Thermostat Issues
Check Thermostat Is Working Properly
1. Always check the thermostat first to make sure it is working properly. Check the display to ensure it has power; if not, you may need to change the thermostat batteries.
2. Verify the selector switch is set to the cool or heat setting as appropriate for the season and that that the thermostat is set to a temperature that will cause the unit to turn on (below the room temperature for the Cool setting and above the room temperature for the Heat setting).
Check The Power Supply
3. Verify that electrical power and gas service is available in your home.
4. Confirm that the circuit breakers are on for indoor and outdoor units and that the switches and/or disconnects near the indoor furnace and outdoor condenser (AC unit) are on.
Let’s Get Started!
Furnace or Air Handler
5. Ensure that the condensation drip pans and/or drain lines near your furnace or air handler are clear. A backed-up HVAC system drain line or indoor coil drip pan may trigger the safety float switch that will shut down your system to protect your home against possible flooding.
6. Also, verify that the door panel on the furnace/air handler is in place and secure; this allows the safety door switch to activate. Sometimes the door shakes loose, which causes the safety switch to shut down the unit.
Dirty Air Filters Restrict Air Flow
7. Confirm that the air filter is clean. A dirty air filter can restrict air flow, which can cause your air conditioning and heating system to shut down or not work correctly. Your air filter should be replaced every one to three months, based on your system and air quality in your home. For more information about home air filters, read this article about How Often You Should Change Your Home Air Filter.
8. Check that the air intake grills and supply registers are open and unobstructed. Your heating and air conditioning system needs sufficient air flow to work correctly. If your “cold air returns” are blocked by furniture or other obstructions, this can affect how well your AC system cools or heats your home.
9. Verify that the pilot light is lit on older furnaces. Today’s furnaces come installed with automatic ignition systems and therefore don’t need to be “lit” like the older units. However, if you are lucky enough to have an older unit with a pilot light that is not lit, your system has a safety feature that will prevent your furnace from turning on. Note: If you have an older system that has a pilot light, you may want to consider upgrading to a newer, safer system. Contact us today for a FREE quote.
Outdoor condenser unit/AC unit
Dirty Outdoor AC Coils Restrict Air Flow
10. Verify that the outdoor coil is clean and has unobstructed air flow. Check the AC unit for dirt, debris, or bushes blocking air flow. Since your AC unit is constantly working to push cool air over the warm coils, dirty coils or clogged fins can significantly impact the performance of your outdoor condenser (air conditioning unit). If your AC unit is dirty, gently spray the air conditioner’s outside with a hose to clean the dirt away. Be careful not to use a hard stream of water that could bend the fins inside your AC unit.
If you want to schedule a quote for a new air conditioning installation in Plano, TX, or surrounding communities, click the link below.
Sometimes, AC system problems can be solved by a professional technician.
Contact an Extreme Comfort professional technician if:
Ice On Outdoor AC Unit
1. If you see ice on the pipes or near the outdoor condenser-AC unit, this results from something failing with your unit and will continue until the problem is resolved.
2. You hear unusual noises coming from your furnace or AC unit. Just like with your car, something is beginning to fail if your AC unit or furnace makes an odd noise. The sooner you have your air conditioning system serviced, the better.
3. Air flow from your vents is much lower than usual. If you have already checked and determined that your air filter is clean and debris-free, something else is causing your issue.
4. Your AC system is rapidly starting and stopping.
5. If circuit breakers won’t reset or repeatedly trip. Circuit breakers often trip to protect your home, but sometimes the circuit breaker fails. Either way, this issue needs to be addressed immediately.
6. If your home doesn’t feel as cool or warm as you would like. Sometimes this is the result of a failing system, sometimes it is the result of a lack of air flow, which is a much easier issue to solve. Either way, you should have your HVAC system evaluated for efficiency.
7. If you smell something burning. If you smell something burning, turn your system off and call for a service call asap.
8. If you smell gas, leave the house immediately and call the gas company.
9. If you see oil accumulating near the air conditioner or piping.
10. If you have higher-than-usual utility bills compared to the recent weather, this is often a sign of a struggling or failing air conditioning unit. It can also be the product of low coolant or Freon in your HVAC system. Since Air Conditioning systems are closed systems, low coolant levels indicate a coolant leak that needs to be addressed immediately.
If your AC System is still not working, let one of the Extreme Comfort Relief Team solve your problem. Click the link below to schedule an appointment for the quickest AC Repair Service in Plano, TX, or surrounding communities.