Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of explanations why your central AC system won’t work: a triggered circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a switched off switch or a full condensate drain pan.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
Your air conditioner won’t run when you have a blown breaker.
To see if one has gotten overloaded, go to your house’s main electrical panel. You can locate 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.
- Look for the breaker labeled “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” position. If it’s overloaded, the switch will be in the "off" position.
- Firmly shift the lever back to the “on” location. If it instantaneously triggers again, don’t touch it and reach us at 314-262-4541. A switch that keeps turning off could mean your home has electrical trouble.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t telling your system to run, it won’t turn on.
The most important point is making sure it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner may not turn on. You may also have warm air blowing from vents because the heat is going instead.
If you’re using a traditional thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the screen is blank. If the readout is showing garbled numbers, replace the thermostat.
- Make sure the correct setting is showing. If you can’t alter it, override it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if scheduling is not right.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is set the same as the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set accurately, you should start getting chilled air fast.
If you rely on a smart thermostat, such as one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you’re still having problems, contact us at 314-262-4541 for help.
Turn-Off Switch
Your AC typically has a power-cutting switch by its outdoor unit. This device is generally in a metal box hung on your home. If your unit has recently been maintained, the device may have inadvertently been turned off.
Blocked Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans catch the surplus liquid your AC takes out of the air. This pan can be found either under or inside your furnace or air handler.
When there’s an obstruction or clogged drain, water can become concentrated and initiate a safety setting to stop your unit.
If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the additional condensation with a formulated pan-cleaning capsule. You can purchase these tablets at a home improvement or hardware shop.
If your pan includes a pump, look for the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you might have to install a new pump. Reach us at 314-262-4541 for assistance.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your AC is on but not providing cold air, its airflow could be clogged. Or it might not have enough refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your system’s airflow can be limited by a clogged air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Put in a New Your Air Filter
A filthy filter can create a lot of troubles, like:
- Lower comfort
- Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Intermittent cooling
- Higher electricity bills
- Leading your system to break down faster
We recommend installing new flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last replaced your filter, turn off your equipment totally and remove the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be located in an attached filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.
Tilt the filter up to your light fixture. If you see a lot of dust, you need to replace it.
How to Clean Your Air Conditioning Equipment
Brush, vegetation and sticks can obstruct your condensing unit. This may reduce its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s how you can get your unit operating properly again.
- Switch off the electrical current fully at the breaker or outdoor switch.
- Get rid of greenery rubbish around the air conditioner. Once you’ve cleared larger clutter within a two-foot radius, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to carefully clean the unit’s fins. Deformed fins can also hurt performance.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly take off dirt on the fins from inside the equipment. Don’t get water on the fan motor.
- Turn the power back on.
Not Enough Refrigerant
When AC units don’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll struggle to remove heat and humidity from the air.
Here are a few symptoms that your unit is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes a long time to cool your residence and you’re regularly lowering the thermostat.
- Air conditioning blowing through the ducts isn’t as cold as it should be.
- You’re experiencing whistling or bubbling noises when the air conditioning works.
- Your evaporator coil is frosty because it’s having an issue absorbing warmth.
Worried your unit is leaking refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service professional to fix the leak and restore the correct level of refrigerant in your system. Reach us at 314-262-4541 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it seems like you’re not getting adequate amounts of cold air, there’s usually a clog or detachment inside your air conditioning unit.
- The beginning step is looking at your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s soiled.
- Make sure the ductwork is open across your rooms.
- If you’re still not experiencing ample chilly air, you should have your ductwork inspected by a pro like Morgner Inc. Air Conditioning & Heating. Your ducts could need to be serviced or reconnected in hard-to-reach locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.