Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be several reasons why your AC equipment won’t start: a triggered circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a shut off switch or a full condensate drain pan.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
Your cooling won’t work when you have a blown breaker.
To find out if one has blown, locate your house’s main electrical panel. You can spot this metallic device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Confirm your hands and feet aren’t wet before you work on the panel or breakers.
- Locate the breaker marked “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s overloaded, the switch will be in the "off" position.
- Steadily transfer the breaker back to the “on” spot. If it instantaneously flips again, leave it alone and reach us at 512-937-2001. A breaker that keeps tripping could mean your home has electrical trouble.
Inaccurate Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your equipment to work, it won’t activate.
The first step is making sure it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC may not start running. You could also receive heated air coming from vents since the heater is on instead.
If you rely on a traditional thermostat:
- Swap out the batteries if the readout is clear. If the monitor is showing scrambled letters, replace the thermostat.
- Make sure the proper program is showing. If you can’t alter it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if scheduling is wrong.
- Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is set the same as the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is adjusted properly, you should receive refreshing air quickly.
If you’re using a smart thermostat, including ones made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If it still won’t work, contact us at 512-937-2001 for support.
Shut-Down Switch
Your cooling equipment usually has a shut-down switch by its outdoor unit. This switch is typically in a metal box hung on your home. If your unit has recently been maintained, the switch may have accidentally been turned off.
Clogged Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans keep the extra water your equipment pulls from the air. This pan can be positioned either below or in your furnace or air handler.
When there’s an obstruction or backed up drain, water can build up and trigger a safety feature to stop your air conditioner.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the surplus liquid with a custom pan-cleaning tab. You can purchase these tabs at a home improvement or hardware shop.
If your pan has a pump, locate the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you could need to get a new pump. Call us at 512-937-2001 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is working but not delivering cold air, its airflow could be congested. Or it may not have enough refrigerant.
Clogged Airflow
Your system’s airflow can be restricted by a clogged air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Put in a New Your Air Filter
A filthy filter can create many issues, like:
- Limited cooling
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Intermittent cooling
- Higher energy bills
- Leading your system to break down faster
We suggest replacing flat filters monthly, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last replaced your filter, turn off your system fully and take out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be found in a connected filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.
Tilt the filter up to the light. If you can’t see any light, you should replace it.
How to Clean Your Air Conditioning Unit
Brush, plants and bushes can get in the way of your condensing unit. This may limit its airflow, make it less energy efficient and impact your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your equipment working well again.
- Shut off power completely at the breaker or external lever.
- Clear vegetation waste around the unit. Once you’ve cleared larger debris within a two-foot range, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dust from the equipment’s fins. Distorted fins can also affect efficiency.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly clean the fins from inside the system. Make sure to avoid getting liquid on the fan motor.
- Turn the power back on.
Not Enough Refrigerant
When cooling equipment doesn’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll struggle to remove heat and humidity from your rooms.
Here are a couple of symptoms that your equipment is seeping refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to cool your rooms and you’re continually turning down the thermostat.
- Cooling moving through the registers isn’t as cold as it should be.
- You’re experiencing hissing or gurgling sounds when cooling works.
- Your evaporator coil is icy on account of having trouble handling warmth.
Suspect your unit is leaking refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service expert to repair the leak and refill the right measurement of refrigerant in your system. Reach us at 512-937-2001 for assistance.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not receiving enough chilled air, there’s likely an obstruction or detachment inside your cooling unit.
- The initial place is examining your air filter. Get a new one if it’s dirty.
- Make sure the vents are open around your rooms.
- If you’re still not receiving sufficient cold air, you should have your ducts checked by a expert like Miller Climate Control LLC. Your duct system may need to be repaired or rejoined in difficult spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.