Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of causes why your air conditioner won’t work: an overloaded circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Triggered Circuit Breaker
Your air conditioner won’t turn on when you have an overloaded breaker.
To check if one has gotten overloaded, go to your residence’s main electrical panel. You can find this metallic box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you touch the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker labeled “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s overloaded, the lever will be in the "off" position.
- Steadily shift the switch back to the “on” spot. If it immediately flips again, don’t touch it and reach us at 918-333-0376. A breaker that keeps flipping could signal your residence has an electrical problem.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your AC to start, it won’t switch on.
The first part is checking it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC might not switch on. You may also have hot air blowing from vents since the furnace is running instead.
If you have a traditional thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the monitor is empty. If the readout is displaying jumbled characters, replace the thermostat.
- Ensure the right setting is showing. If you can’t alter it, override it by dropping the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if programming is wrong.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat matches the house’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set correctly, you should begin getting cool air quickly.
If you have a smart thermostat, like one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If it still won’t work, reach us at 918-333-0376 for assistance.
Turn-Off Switch
Your AC usually has a shut-off device by its outside unit. This lever is commonly in a metal box attached to your house. If your unit has recently been worked on, the device may have accidentally been turned off.
Blocked Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans keep the surplus liquid your equipment takes out of the air. This pan can be positioned either below or within your furnace or air handler.
When there’s an obstruction or backed up drain, water can accumulate and initiate a safety feature to turn off your system.
If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the additional liquid with a custom pan-cleaning tablet. You can get these tablets at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan has a pump, find the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you could need to install a new pump. Reach us at 918-333-0376 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is working but not delivering cold air, its airflow could be obstructed. Or it could not have sufficient refrigerant.
Clogged Airflow
Your unit’s airflow can be restricted by a plugged air filter or filthy condenser.
How to Put in a New Your Air Filter
A dirty filter can cause many issues, like:
- Reduced cooling
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Inconsistent cooling
- Increased utility bills
- Making your system break down sooner
We propose installing new flat filters every four weeks, and pleated filters every three months.
If you aren’t sure when you last replaced your filter, switch off your equipment fully and remove the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be found in an adjoining filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see any light, you should replace it.
How to Clean Your Air Conditioning Unit
Weeds, grass and shrubbery can block your condensing unit. This may reduce its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s how you can get your unit operating well again.
- Shut off the electrical current fully at the breaker or outside switch.
- Clear greenery debris around the equipment. Once you’ve gotten rid of all the clutter within a two-foot radius, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to slowly remove dust from the unit’s fins. Misshapen fins can also impact efficiency.
- 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.
Not Enough Refrigerant
When cooling systems don’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your residence.
Here are a few signs that your equipment is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes too long to lower the temperature in your rooms and you’re regularly lowering the thermostat.
- Air moving through the registers isn’t as chilly as it should be.
- You’re experiencing whistling or bubbling noises when cooling is on.
- Your evaporator coil is frozen due to having an issue handling humidity.
Think your system is losing refrigerant? You need a qualified heating and cooling service specialist to take care of the leak and replenish the correct level of refrigerant in your unit. Call us at 918-333-0376 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it seems like you’re not receiving ample amounts of cold air, there’s possibly a blockage or separation somewhere in your air conditioning unit.
- The initial step is looking at your air filter. Replace it if it’s soiled.
- Make sure the vents are open around your rooms.
- If you’re still not experiencing ample chilly air, you should have your ducts checked by a expert like Farris Heating & Air. Your duct system might need to be serviced or relinked in difficult spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.