Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be several explanations why your air conditioning system won’t start: a triggered circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
Your AC won’t run when you have an overloaded breaker.
To find out if one has blown, go to your house’s main electrical panel. You can find this silver fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Make sure your hands and feet are dry before you check the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker marked “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” position. If it’s overloaded, the switch will be in the middle or “off” position.
- Steadily move the lever back to the “on” spot. If it immediately flips again, don’t touch it and contact us at 318-215-7938. A switch that keeps tripping may indicate your residence has an electrical problem.
Inaccurate Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t telling your system to start, it won’t switch on.
The first point is ensuring it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner will probably not turn on. Or you may have hot air coming from vents since the heater is running instead.
If you have a regular thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the monitor is blank. If the monitor is displaying scrambled characters, get a new thermostat.
- Check the proper option is displaying. If you can’t change it, override it by decreasing the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if programming is not right.
- Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is set the same as the space’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is adjusted accurately, you should receive chilled air quickly.
If you’re using a smart thermostat, like one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If it still won’t work, reach us at 318-215-7938 for assistance.
Turn-Off Switch
Your air conditioner probably has a power-cutting lever by its outdoor unit. This switch is typically in a metal box mounted on your residence. If your unit has recently been tuned up, the lever may have inadvertently been left in the “off” setting.
Overflowing Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans hold the surplus condensation your AC pulls from the air. This pan can be found either below or in your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a blockage or clogged drain, water can build up and initiate a safety feature to stop your air conditioner.
If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the extra liquid with a custom pan-cleaning tab. You can purchase these capsules at a home improvement or hardware shop.
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 318-215-7938 for support.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your equipment is going but not cooling, its airflow could be congested. Or it could not have adequate refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your unit’s airflow can be restricted by a clogged air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A dirty filter can lead to numerous troubles, including:
- Limited cooling
- Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Larger electricity expenses
- Leading your system to wear out faster
We recommend installing new flat filters monthly, and creased filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last changed yours, shut off your equipment fully 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 adjoining filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.
Tilt the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see through it, you should buy a new filter.
5 Steps to Cleaning Your Air Conditioning Equipment
Brush, plants and sticks can obstruct your condensing equipment. This may restrict its airflow, make it less energy efficient and impact your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your unit operating properly again.
- Switch off electricity completely at the breaker or outside switch.
- Get rid of plant debris around the equipment. Once you’ve cleared larger debris within a two-foot area, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to carefully remove dust from the condenser fins. Kinked fins can also impact performance, so you can attempt to correct them with a blunt knife.
- Lift off the upper grate of your air conditioner and pull out any leaves or grass clippings that has collected. Then clean the condenser fan with a wet cloth.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully remove gunk off the fins from inside the unit. Make sure to avoid getting water on the fan motor.
- Install the top again and turn on the power.
Leaking Refrigerant
When cooling units don’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your residence.
Here are a couple of signs that your equipment is losing refrigerant:
- It takes a long time to cool your residence and you’re constantly turning down the thermostat.
- Air conditioning blowing through the registers isn’t as chilly as it should be.
- You’re noticing hissing or bubbling racket when the air conditioning runs.
- Your evaporator coil is frosted on account of having trouble absorbing humidity.
Suspect your system is seeping refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service expert to fix the leak and replenish the proper level of refrigerant in your equipment. Get in touch with us at 318-215-7938 for assistance.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not having ample amounts of chilled air, there’s likely a blockage or disconnection within your air conditioning unit.
- The first place is checking your air filter. Get a new one if it’s soiled.
- Then check the ductwork is clear across your house.
- If you’re still not getting sufficient chilled air, you should have your ducts checked by a expert like Moon's Air. Your duct system may need to be fixed or reconnected in limited space areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.