Air Conditioner
When it is the middle of summer and the temperatures are in nineties or even the hundreds, you want your air conditioner to work. But what if your AC just suddenly quit working? There are steps that you can take if this has happened to you.
During the heat of summer, you want to make sure that your air conditioner is running. You don’t want to have your air conditioning system breakdown during this time. You want your AC working and doing its job.
This article will give you some ideas of what you can do if your AC isn’t working as it should be. These are steps you can take before you call a repairman out. You can also do research to find more information.
Why is My AC Not Working?
Why Isn’t It Turning On?
There are a few things that you can check if you air conditioner just won’t turn on. First, you should check the breaker to see if it flipped for some reason. Check the indoor breaker and the outdoor breaker to see if that was what happened.
Next, make sure that your thermostat is turned toward cool and is on. You can also check to see if the filter has been clogged. Finally, check the condensation pump to make sure that it is working as it should.
Why is it Not Cooling?
If your home is not cooling at all, check to see if you have the thermostat turned to cool and is turned on. This is a common mistake and one that is easy to overlook. You also should look to see if it is set at a cool temperature.
You can also check your filter for this problem – if it is dirty or clogged, your home won’t cool as it should: https://www.bhg.com/how-often-to-change-air-filter-6892201. This can cause your AC to do short cycling, which is when it comes on and goes off in quick cycles. Make sure you clean your filters regularly and change them at least twice a year.
Check the vents to see that nothing is blocking them. There could be toys, clothing, or too much dust and dirt inside the vents. Don’t place furniture over the vents because this will block the air flow.
Why is the Fan Not Working?
This could be another case of the breakers tripping, so this should be what you look at first. You could also have a condenser fan motor that has burnt out. This will need to be replaced by a professional.
The capacitor could also be failing and so you should look at this. Capacitors are devices that send power to the fan motor and the air conditioning unit. This also needs to be replaced by a professional.
Your condensate pump might have quit working, as well. These usually have a test button so that you can test it on your own. There needs to be water in the basin before you push the test button. If your pump is failing, it will trip your breaker to prevent any damage.
Why is it Making Noise?
Your air conditioner should run quietly, it shouldn’t make too much noise. There might be small noises when they come on or go off, but there shouldn’t be any squeals, hisses, rattling, or banging. If you hear these types of noises, you should call a professional.
Why is it Not Going Off?
Your evaporator coil could be frozen if your AC fails to go off. This could mean that you have a coolant leak somewhere. This needs to be taken care of as soon as possible. See what you should do if your coils are frozen here. You can let it thaw, but you will still need to call a professional.
It could be something as simple as dirt on your coil. If there is dirt on the coil, it won’t disperse the heat outside your home as it should. A build up of dirt will trap the heat inside the air conditioner and it will have trouble reaching the temperature that you have the thermostat set at.
Can I Reset My AC?
If your AC has been professionally installed, it will probably not have a reset button. The only way that you might be able to reset would be the breaker switch. This might have been tripped due to weather or other reasons.
When Should I Call a Professional?
Think safety first – if it looks unsafe to you, call a professional. You can look to see what you think the issue is, but it is always best to call a professional to do the work. You don’t want to cause more problems by trying to do the work yourself.
Conclusion
There are many reasons that your AC may have failed to work. If you are having any issues, you should probably check the breaker switch first, and then call a professional to troubleshoot the problem. You want to make sure that the work is done the right way.
