Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of reasons why your AC equipment won’t work: an overloaded circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
Your air conditioner won’t run when you have a blown breaker.
To determine if one has blown, go to your home’s main electrical panel. You can spot this gray fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you touch the panel or breakers.
- Find the breaker marked “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s overloaded, the switch will be in the middle of the panel or “off” location.
- Quickly shift the breaker back to the “on” location. If it instantaneously trips again, leave it alone and contact us at 308-995-8177. A breaker that keeps flipping may indicate your home has an electrical problem.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t telling your system to work, it won’t activate.
The first point is ensuring it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner might not turn on. Or you could receive warm air coming from vents being the heat is on instead.
If you have a traditional thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the readout is clear. If the monitor is presenting garbled letters, buy a new thermostat.
- Ensure the proper setting is displaying. If you can’t alter it, override it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if the configuration is incorrect.
- Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees cooler than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat matches the house’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is calibrated accurately, you should begin getting cool air promptly.
If you have a smart thermostat, including ones produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If it still won’t work, contact us at 308-995-8177 for support.
Shut-Down Switch
Your cooling equipment typically has a shut-down switch by its outside unit. This device is generally in a metal box attached to your house. If your equipment has recently been maintained, the lever may have unintentionally been left in the “off” setting.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans hold the surplus condensation your equipment takes out of the air. This pan is located either below or in your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a blockage or backed up drain, water can become concentrated and trigger a safety feature to switch off your equipment.
If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the surplus condensation with a formulated pan-cleaning tablet. You can get these tablets at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan involves a pump, find the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you might have to get a new pump. Call us at 308-995-8177 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is working but not delivering cold air, its airflow may be obstructed. Or it might not have adequate refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be decreased by a plugged air filter or filthy condenser.
How to Put in a New Your Air Filter
A dusty filter can cause a lot of troubles, such as:
- Lower comfort
- Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Inconsistent cooling
- Bigger utility costs
- Causing your system to wear out faster
We propose replacing flat filters monthly, and creased filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last installed a new one, turn off your AC completely and take out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be located in an adjoining filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.
Hold the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see through it, you certainly should buy a new filter.
5 Steps to Cleaning Your AC Unit
Greenery, vegetation and shrubbery can obstruct your condensing system. This may reduce its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your equipment operating smoothly again.
- Switch off electricity fully at the breaker or external switch.
- Remove vegetation debris around the air conditioner. Once you’ve gotten rid of all the debris within a two-foot space, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to slowly remove dust from the condenser fins. Warped fins can also impact capability, so you can attempt to correct them with a blunt knife.
- Remove the upper part of your AC and pull out any leaves or sticks that has collected. Then wipe off the condenser fan with a damp cloth.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly take off dirt on the fins from inside the equipment. Make sure to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
- Replace the top and turn the power back on.
Low Refrigerant Levels
When air conditioning equipment doesn’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your home.
Here are a couple of symptoms that your unit is losing refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to lower the temperature in your residence and you’re continually lowering the thermostat.
- Air blowing through the registers isn’t as chilly as it should be.
- You’re noticing whistling or gurgling noises when the AC is on.
- Your evaporator coil is frosty because it’s having an issue handling humidity.
Think your equipment is losing refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service expert to take care of the leak and restore the correct level of refrigerant in your unit. Call us at 308-995-8177 for assistance.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it feels like you’re not getting ample amounts of cool air, there’s likely a clog or separation inside your cooling equipment.
- The beginning step is looking at your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s dusty.
- Then check the ductwork is open throughout your residence.
- If you’re still not getting adequate chilled air, you should have your duct system examined by a pro like Durable Service . Your duct system may need to be fixed or rejoined in hard-to-reach spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.