Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a few reasons why your air conditioning won’t run: an overloaded circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Your cooling won’t turn on when you have an overloaded breaker.
To see if one has blown, go to your house’s main electrical panel. You can locate this gray box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Confirm your hands and feet are free of moisture before you work on the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker identified “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” position. If it’s tripped, the lever will be in the "off" position.
- Steadily shift the lever back to the “on” location. If it instantaneously flips again, don’t reset it and get in touch with us at 832-224-3887. A fuse that keeps tripping might mean your residence has an electrical problem.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t telling your AC to work, it won’t activate.
The most important point is ensuring it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC might not turn on. You may also receive heated air blowing from vents because the furnace is on instead.
If you have a regular thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the readout is blank. If the monitor is showing scrambled numbers, buy a new thermostat.
- Check the proper program is displaying. If you can’t alter it, override it by lowering the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if scheduling is wrong.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat is set the same as the space’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is calibrated properly, you should start getting cool air quickly.
If you rely on a smart thermostat, including ones made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you’re still having problems, call us at 832-224-3887 for assistance.
Shut-Down Switch
Your system usually has a power-cutting device near its condenser. This lever is commonly in a metal box attached to your house. If your AC has recently been tuned up, the lever may have accidentally been turned off.
Overflowing Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans keep the surplus condensation your equipment removes from the air. This pan can be situated either below or in your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a blockage or blocked drain, water can become concentrated and initiate a safety setting to turn off your air conditioner.
If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the additional condensation with a custom pan-cleaning tab. You can buy these tabs at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan includes a pump, find the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you could need to get a new pump. Call us at 832-224-3887 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is going but not delivering cold air, its airflow may be blocked. Or it might not have adequate refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your system’s airflow can be restricted by a clogged air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A dusty filter can create numerous issues, like:
- Reduced comfort
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Intermittent cooling
- Larger electricity expenses
- Leading your system to stop working faster
We recommend changing flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.
If you aren’t sure when you last replaced your filter, shut off your unit totally and remove the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be located in a connected filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.
Hold the filter up to the light. If you see a lot of dust, you certainly should replace it.
How to Clean Your Air Conditioning System
Brush, grass and sticks can block your condensing system. This could restrict its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your unit working well again.
- Turn off electricity completely at the breaker or external device.
- Get rid of yard waste around the unit. Once you’ve gotten rid of bigger clutter within a two-foot space, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to gingerly clean the equipment’s fins. Distorted fins can also impact performance.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully clean the fins from inside the unit. Be careful to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
- Turn the power back on.
Insufficient Refrigerant
When AC systems don’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your space.
Here are a couple of symptoms that your system is losing refrigerant:
- It takes too long to refresh your house and you’re constantly turning down the thermostat.
- Air conditioning coming through the ducts isn’t as chilled as it should be.
- You’re noticing hissing or gurgling noises when the AC runs.
- Your evaporator coil is icy on account of having an issue taking on warmth.
Suspect your equipment is seeping refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service professional to take care of the leak and refill the proper measurement of refrigerant in your unit. Get in touch with us at 832-224-3887 for support.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it seems like you’re not getting adequate amounts of cool air, there’s possibly a blockage or disconnection somewhere in your cooling unit.
- The beginning place is examining your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s dusty.
- Make sure the registers are open across your residence.
- If you’re still not experiencing ample chilly air, you should have your ductwork inspected by a pro like Air Houston Mechanical LLC. Your ducts could need to be repaired or rejoined in difficult locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.