If an early Spring heat wave has you feeling hot and your system won’t cooperate, we recommend trying the following steps in order to troubleshoot your air conditioner problem yourself before calling for emergency service. This could potentially save you some money and cool things off faster!
What Should I Do If My Air Conditioner Won’t Turn On?
- Check Your Thermostat: Make sure your thermostat is set to ‘COOL’ and the temperature is set at least 5-degrees below the current indoor temperature.
- Check Your Air Filter: If your air filter is covered in dust and hair, this is likely the problem, suffocating your system and causing it to go into self-preservation mode and turn off. Change out the filter for a new one and make a note on the calendar, making sure you replace your AC filter every 3-months.
- Look For A Blown Fuse/Tripped Circuit Breaker: This often occurs with power surges, and the problem could affect your system in one of two places:
- On the unit itself, tripping the fuse at the shutoff box at the outside unit (this fuse doesn’t flip, it must be replaced.)
- At the main circuit breaker, tripped breakers will show in the halfway position, and must be flipped all the way OFF and then back ON.
(NOTE: If you flip the breaker back on, and it flips again, you’re unit may be pulling electricity – a dangerous problem that requires professional attention.)
- See If the Emergency Shut-Off Switch Is Tripped: Usually located next to the outside unit in a metal box hanging on your house, if someone has recently worked on the AC unit, they may have accidentally left this switch in the ‘OFF’ position.
- Check the Inside Unit’s Power Switch. Sometimes a switch in the air handler closet/crawl space/attic that looks like a light switch can control power to your HVAC. Make sure this wasn’t accidentally flipped.
- Make Sure the Drain Pan & Lines Aren’t Clogged: When your AC system runs, it creates condensation that runs out of your home through a drain line. If the drain pan is full, and/or this line becomes clogged, it will trigger a safety switch, turning off your system. Unclogging with a wet/dry vac or pipe snake and clearing the blockage could easily solve the problem.
- Look For a ‘RESET’ Button: Some systems have a ‘RESET’ switch on the outside unit. You can push this and see if it helps. If yours does not, you can turn off the system at the thermostat, wait 5 minutes and try again. If this works, but only temporarily…
- Look For Icy Buildup: If you see any icy buildup on system components, let it thaw before you try to turn the unit on. The bad news: This can take up to 24-hours. If the coil is clogged blocking airflow, it will cause the temperature to drop and freeze up. This will prevent your system from running. Low refrigerant and improper fan operation can also cause this issue. If you see it you need to call a pro.
Air conditioner on the fritz? Air out your house quickly.
Give Bolton Construction & Service of WNC, Inc. a call at 828-253-3621 for prompt, reliable service today.