Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be several causes why your air conditioning system won’t work: a triggered circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a shut off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Triggered Circuit Breaker
Your AC won’t work when you have a blown breaker.
To find out if one has tripped, find your home’s main electrical panel. You can locate this metallic fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet are dry before you touch the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker identified “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s overloaded, the switch will be in the "off" position.
- Firmly move the lever back to the “on” location. If it instantaneously flips again, leave it alone and reach us at 614-451-0846. A breaker that keeps turning off may signal your residence has an electrical problem.
Inaccurate Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your system to work, it won’t turn on.
The first step is ensuring it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner will probably not turn on. You could also get hot air coming from vents since the furnace is on instead.
If you have a digital thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the readout is empty. If the readout is displaying jumbled letters, buy a new thermostat.
- Ensure the proper program is displaying. If you can’t alter it, cancel it by lowering the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if the configuration is wrong.
- Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat matches the house’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is adjusted properly, you should start getting cold air quickly.
If you rely on a smart thermostat, including ones manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If it still won’t work, reach us at 614-451-0846 for support.
Turn-Off Switch
Your system typically has a power-cutting device by its condenser. This switch is generally in a metal box mounted on your house. If your AC has recently been maintained, the device may have accidentally been turned off.
Blocked Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans catch the additional water your air conditioner pulls from the air. This pan can be situated either below or within your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a clog or blocked drain, water can build up and prompt a safety control to stop your system.
If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the extra condensation with a custom pan-cleaning capsule. You can purchase these tabs at a home improvement or hardware shop.
If your pan includes a pump, find the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you could need to install a new pump. Call us at 614-451-0846 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is going but not delivering cold air, its airflow could be blocked. Or it could not have enough refrigerant.
Obstructed Airflow
Your system’s airflow can be limited by a blocked air filter or filthy condenser.
How to Put in a New Your Air Filter
A dusty filter can cause many issues, such as:
- Reduced comfort
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Larger utility bills
- Causing your system to stop working sooner
We recommend changing flat filters every four weeks, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last replaced your filter, switch off your equipment completely and pull out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be situated in an attached filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.
Hold the filter up to the light. If you see a lot of dust, you need to buy a new filter.
4 Steps to Cleaning Your Cooling Equipment
Brush, plants and sticks can obstruct your condensing system. This could restrict its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your system operating well again.
- Shut off electricity completely at the breaker or external device.
- Get rid of plant waste around the equipment. Once you’ve removed bigger refuse within a two-foot range, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to carefully remove dirt from the condenser fins. Crooked fins can also hurt efficiency.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully remove gunk off the fins from inside the equipment. Be careful to avoid getting water on the fan motor.
- Restore the power.
Low Refrigerant Levels
When cooling equipment doesn’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your home.
Here are a few signs that your unit is seeping refrigerant:
- It takes a long time to refresh your rooms and you’re constantly lowering the thermostat.
- Air blowing through the ducts isn’t as chilled as it should be.
- You’re noticing whistling or burbling sounds when cooling runs.
- Your evaporator coil is frozen due to having difficulty taking on humidity.
Think your equipment is seeping refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service professional to fix the leak and refill the correct level of refrigerant in your equipment. Call us at 614-451-0846 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it seems like you’re not receiving enough chilled air, there’s probably a clog or detachment inside your air conditioning unit.
- The initial step is examining your air filter. Get a new one if it’s dirty.
- Make sure the ductwork is open throughout your house.
- If you’re still not experiencing ample chilled air, you should have your ductwork inspected by a expert like Wolfe & Sons Heating and Cooling. Your duct system might need to be fixed or reconnected in tricky locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.