Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a few causes why your air conditioner won’t run: a blown circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Blown Circuit Breaker
Your system won’t turn on when you have a tripped breaker.
To see if one has blown, go to your home’s main electrical panel. You can locate 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.
- Locate the breaker identified “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” location. If it’s overloaded, the breaker will be in the "off" position.
- Steadily transfer the lever back to the “on” location. If it instantaneously flips again, don’t reset it and contact us at 605-206-3766. A breaker that keeps flipping could signal your house has an electrical issue.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your AC to work, it won’t turn on.
The first point is ensuring it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner will probably not turn on. You might also have warm air moving from vents since the furnace is on instead.
If you’re using a digital thermostat:
- Swap out the batteries if the readout is blank. If the readout is displaying scrambled characters, replace the thermostat.
- Make sure the right option is on the display. If you can’t alter it, override it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if the configuration is incorrect.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat matches the space’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set accurately, you should start getting chilled air promptly.
If you have a smart thermostat, like one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you’re still having problems, contact us at 605-206-3766 for help.
Turn-Off Switch
Your cooling equipment usually has a shut-off lever by its condenser. This device is generally in a metal box hung on your home. If your air conditioner has recently been fixed, the switch may have inadvertently been turned off.
Overflowing Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans catch the extra condensation your air conditioner takes out of the air. This pan is located either under or inside your furnace or air handler.
When there’s an obstruction or blocked drain, water can build up and trigger a safety control to stop your equipment.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the extra water with a formulated pan-cleaning tab. You can get these tablets 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 water in the pan, you could need to install a new pump. Call us at 605-206-3766 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your air conditioner is working but not providing cold air, its airflow could be blocked. Or it could not have adequate refrigerant.
Obstructed Airflow
Your system’s airflow can be decreased by a clogged air filter or dirty condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A dirty filter can cause numerous troubles, like:
- Reduced cooling
- Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Higher utility bills
- Leading your system to wear out 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, switch off your unit fully and take out the filter. You can find 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 the light. If you can’t see any light, you need to replace it.
How to Clean Your Air Conditioning Equipment
Greenery, grass and leaves can block your condensing equipment. This can reduce its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your unit operating properly again.
- Switch off electricity totally at the breaker or outside device.
- Clear yard rubbish around the unit. Once you’ve gotten rid of all the refuse within a two-foot radius, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dust from the equipment’s fins. Misshapen fins can also affect effectiveness.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully clean the fins from inside the system. Make sure to avoid getting water on the fan motor.
- Turn on the power.
Insufficient Refrigerant
When air conditioning units don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll struggle to remove heat and humidity from your rooms.
Here are a couple of indications that your unit is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to lower the temperature in your space and you’re constantly turning down the thermostat.
- Air conditioning blowing through the vents isn’t as chilly as it should be.
- You’re noticing fizzing or gurgling sounds when the air conditioning works.
- Your evaporator coil is icy as a result of having an issue absorbing humidity.
Think your unit is losing refrigerant? You need a qualified heating and cooling service specialist to fix the leak and restore the correct amount of refrigerant in your equipment. Call us at 605-206-3766 for support.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it feels like you’re not having ample amounts of cool air, there’s probably a clog or disconnection within your cooling equipment.
- The first step is looking at your air filter. Get a new one if it’s filthy.
- Make sure the ductwork is open across your residence.
- If you’re still not receiving adequate chilly air, you should have your duct system inspected by a pro like Precision Mechanical. Your ductwork may need to be fixed or hooked up again in limited space locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.