Is there anything more frustrating than losing your air conditioner and having trouble with it, right at the moment when you need it the most in your home?
Of course not!
And calling for someone to fix it and waiting on available date can really influence your schedule, not to mention that it will probably greatly affect your budget!
To help you save some money, we’ve listed some air conditioner troubleshooting tips that will help you with some of the most common AC problems.
Problem 1: Low airflow, ice on refrigerant lines and water leakage
The issue may be: a dirty filter
Solution: This is one of the most common issues with home air conditioner units. Regardless of which type of air conditioner you may have, all of them have filters and when they get clogged, they restrict the airflow which results in decreased efficiency and reduced ability to successfully cool the air in your house.
Did you know that you can easily clean the air filter? Typically, all manufacturs provide instructions on when your filter needs to be replaced – usually any time from 3 to 12 months after installation.
Bear in mind that having pets may significantly reduce this time. If there is a layer of dirt on your filter, simply clean it with a soft, wet rag. If it is clogged and not a simple do-it-yourself task, then give Accurate Heating & Air Conditioning a call so we can help!
Problem 2: Air conditioner is not turning on;
The issue may be: a tripped breaker
Solution: Sometimes the solution might be as easy as turning on a switch. If your AC is not turning on, first check whether there are any circuit breakers that are not working. Go to your home’s electrical panel and see whether your AC circuit is tripped. If they are, push firmly into the ON position and then try to turn the AC back on again.
Nevertheless, if you notice that the second you turn your AC on the breaker instantly trips, then don’t keep on trying, as this could be a sign of a bigger electrical problem and you should contact a professional.
Problem 3: Air conditioner won’t turn on and/or has warm air coming out of vents
The issue may be: incorrect thermostat settings
Solution: If your air conditioner won’t turn on and your breaker is ON, and/or you see hot air coming out from the air vents, the issue might be something really simple, like incorrect thermostat settings.
One of the things that many service calls claim is more common than you might expect and makes people look silly is when they call claiming their AC is not working, but the issue turns out to be that their thermostat is set to the wrong setting.
Before calling, make sure that you double-check that your thermostat is set to COOL not HEAT. When switching seasons this mistake often occurs, and that’s ok!
Looking for more HVAC FAQs?
We love helping homeowers throughout the North Bay. So feel free to visit our HVAC FAQs page or give us a call at (707) 595-0420 today.
