Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be several reasons why your air conditioning system won’t run: a triggered circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Blown Circuit Breaker
Your air conditioning won’t start when you have a tripped breaker.
To determine if one has gotten overloaded, locate your house’s main electrical panel. You can spot this metallic device 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.
- Find the breaker labeled “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” position. If it’s tripped, the switch will be in the "off" position.
- Firmly transfer the breaker back to the “on” location. If it instantaneously trips again, don’t reset it and contact us at 760-784-9034. A breaker that keeps turning off could signal your house has an electrical issue.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your equipment to work, it won’t switch on.
The first part is making sure it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning will probably not start running. You may also have heated air moving from vents because the heat is going instead.
If you’re using a traditional thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the screen is clear. If the monitor is showing scrambled numbers, buy a new thermostat.
- Check the right program is on the display. If you can’t change it, override it by dropping 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 lower than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat matches the space’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set accurately, you should receive chilled air quickly.
If you have a smart thermostat, including ones manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If it still won’t work, reach us at 760-784-9034 for help.
Shut-Off Switch
Your AC typically has a power-cutting switch by its outside unit. This lever is commonly in a metal box attached to your residence. If your unit has recently been fixed, the device may have accidentally been turned off.
Blocked Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans catch the extra liquid your system takes out of the air. This pan can be situated either below or inside your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a blockage or backed up drain, water can build up and prompt a safety feature to stop your air conditioner.
If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the surplus condensation with a special pan-cleaning tab. You can purchase these capsules at a home improvement or hardware store.
If your pan has a pump, find the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you might have to get a new pump. Reach us at 760-784-9034 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your AC is on but not providing cold air, its airflow could be blocked. Or it may not have adequate refrigerant.
Clogged Airflow
Your system’s airflow can be decreased by a blocked air filter or filthy condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A dusty filter can lead to a lot of troubles, including:
- Limited comfort
- Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Intermittent cooling
- Higher electricity costs
- Causing your system to break down more quickly
We propose installing new flat filters every four weeks, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last replaced your filter, turn off your equipment fully and remove the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be located in an attached filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
Hold the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see through it, you certainly should replace it.
How to Clean Your Cooling System
Weeds, vegetation and bushes can block your condensing unit. This can limit its airflow, make it less energy efficient and impact your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your unit operating smoothly again.
- Switch off power fully at the breaker or outdoor lever.
- Get rid of greenery waste around the unit. Once you’ve gotten rid of all the clutter within a two-foot range, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dust from the condenser fins. Misshapen fins can also hurt capability.
- Use a hose nozzle to gingerly remove gunk off the fins from inside the system. Don’t get moisture on the fan motor.
- Turn on the power.
Not Enough Refrigerant
When cooling equipment doesn’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your residence.
Here are a couple of signs that your system is losing refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to lower the temperature in your home and you’re continually turning down the thermostat.
- Air moving through the vents isn’t as cold as it should be.
- You’re hearing whistling or bubbling sounds when the AC works.
- Your evaporator coil is iced over due to having difficulty handling heat.
Worried your equipment is leaking refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service specialist to repair the leak and refill the right level of refrigerant in your unit. Reach us at 760-784-9034 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it feels like you’re not getting enough cold air, there’s likely an obstruction or detachment somewhere in your air conditioning equipment.
- The first step is checking your air filter. Replace it if it’s dusty.
- Make sure the vents are open across your residence.
- If you’re still not receiving sufficient cold air, you should have your ducts inspected by a pro like Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning. Your duct system may need to be serviced or reconnected in difficult areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.