Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a few reasons why your air conditioning won’t cool: a triggered circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
Your air conditioner won’t start when you have an overloaded breaker.
To see if one has gotten overloaded, find your residence’s main electrical panel. You can find this silver box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you touch the panel or breakers.
- Find the breaker labeled “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s tripped, the breaker will be in the "off" position.
- Steadily transfer the switch back to the “on” location. If it instantly trips again, don’t reset it and contact us at 843-485-0967. A fuse that keeps tripping might mean your house has an electrical problem.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t telling your system to work, it won’t turn on.
The main point is ensuring it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC might not start running. You might also receive heated air blowing from vents because the heater is running instead.
If you have a traditional thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the monitor is empty. If the readout is displaying jumbled letters, buy a new thermostat.
- Ensure the right setting is showing. If you can’t update it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if the configuration is incorrect.
- Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is identical to the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is adjusted accurately, you should receive refreshing air quickly.
If you’re using a smart thermostat, such as one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you’re still having problems, reach us at 843-485-0967 for support.
Shut-Off Switch
Your cooling equipment typically has a shut-down lever around its outdoor unit. This device is commonly in a metal box hung on your house. If your unit has recently been worked on, the device may have unintentionally been turned off.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans keep the surplus water your air conditioner takes out of the air. This pan can be positioned either below or within your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a blockage or clogged drain, water can become concentrated and initiate a safety control to turn off your equipment.
If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the additional water with a custom pan-cleaning tablet. You can buy these tabs at a home improvement or hardware store.
If your pan involves a pump, look for the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you could need to install a new pump. Call us at 843-485-0967 for support.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is running but not delivering cold air, its airflow might be clogged. Or it might not have sufficient refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be restricted by a plugged air filter or filthy condenser.
How to Put in a New Your Air Filter
A filthy filter can lead to numerous issues, such as:
- Lower cooling
- Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Larger cooling bills
- Leading your system to wear out sooner
We suggest 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 completely and take out the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be located in an adjoining filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to your light fixture. If you can’t see through it, you need to buy a new filter.
4 Steps to Cleaning Your Air Conditioning Equipment
Greenery, vegetation and shrubbery can block your condensing equipment. This could reduce its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your equipment working smoothly again.
- Shut off power totally at the breaker or external switch.
- Remove plant debris around the equipment. Once you’ve removed all the clutter within a two-foot radius, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to carefully clean the equipment’s fins. Misshapen fins can also hurt performance.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully take off dirt on the fins from inside the equipment. Don’t get moisture on the fan motor.
- Turn the power back on.
Leaking Refrigerant
When AC units don’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll struggle to remove heat and humidity from your space.
Here are a couple of flags that your system is seeping refrigerant:
- It takes too long to refresh your space and you’re continually decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
- Air coming through the vents isn’t as chilled as it should be.
- You’re hearing fizzing or burbling sounds when the AC works.
- Your evaporator coil is frosted because it’s having trouble absorbing humidity.
Think your system is losing refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service specialist to take care of the leak and replenish the correct measurement of refrigerant in your unit. Reach us at 843-485-0967 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it seems like you’re not getting adequate amounts of chilled air, there’s likely an obstruction or disconnection within your AC equipment.
- The beginning place is checking your air filter. Get a new one if it’s soiled.
- Make sure the ductwork is open throughout your rooms.
- If you’re still not experiencing ample cold air, you should have your ductwork checked by a professional like Olde Towne Heating & Air. Your ductwork may need to be fixed or hooked up again in difficult areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.