Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a few explanations why your air conditioning won’t cool: a tripped circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Blown Circuit Breaker
Your air conditioner won’t turn on when you have a blown breaker.
To check if one has gotten overloaded, find your house’s main electrical panel. You can spot this silver device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Make sure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you check the panel or breakers.
- Locate the breaker marked “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s triggered, the switch will be in the "off" position.
- Quickly shift the breaker back to the “on” position. If it immediately triggers again, leave it alone and call us at 812-200-5844. A fuse that keeps turning off could mean your home has an electrical problem.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your AC to work, it won’t activate.
The key part is ensuring it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning may not switch on. You may also have warm air moving from vents being the heat is going instead.
If you rely on a traditional thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the readout is blank. If the monitor is presenting scrambled numbers, buy a new thermostat.
- Check the correct mode is showing. If you can’t alter it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if scheduling is incorrect.
- Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat matches the house’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set correctly, you should begin getting refreshing air promptly.
If you’re using a smart thermostat, like one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you’re still having problems, reach us at 812-200-5844 for help.
Shut-Down Switch
Your air conditioner usually has a shut-off switch by its outside unit. This device is commonly in a metal box hung on your residence. If your air conditioner has recently been repaired, the lever may have accidentally been turned off.
Blocked Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans catch the extra liquid your system removes from the air. This pan is located either below or inside your furnace or air handler.
When there’s an obstruction or backed up drain, water can become concentrated and initiate a safety feature to switch off your equipment.
If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the surplus condensation with a formulated pan-cleaning tablet. You can buy these tabs at a home improvement or hardware store.
If your pan includes a pump, find the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you could need to replace the pump. Contact us at 812-200-5844 for support.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your AC is working but not delivering cold air, its airflow could be clogged. Or it may not have adequate refrigerant.
Clogged Airflow
Your system’s airflow can be limited by a clogged air filter or filthy condenser.
How to Put in a New Your Air Filter
A filthy filter can create countless problems, including:
- Limited airflow
- Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Larger cooling bills
- Making your system break down more quickly
We suggest replacing flat filters every four weeks, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last replaced your filter, shut off your equipment completely and pull out the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be situated in an adjoining filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to the light. If you can’t see any light, you certainly should get a new one.
4 Tips on Cleaning Your Air Conditioning Unit
Greenery, grass and bushes can get in the way of your condensing system. This can limit its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your system working smoothly again.
- Turn off power completely at the breaker or outdoor device.
- Get rid of plant waste around the AC. Once you’ve removed bigger debris within a two-foot range, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to slowly clean the unit’s fins. Crooked fins can also impact performance.
- 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.
- Restore the power.
Not Enough Refrigerant
When AC equipment doesn’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your house.
Here are a couple of flags that your system is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes a long time to cool your residence and you’re regularly turning down the thermostat.
- Air conditioning moving through the ducts isn’t as chilled as it should be.
- You’re experiencing whistling or bubbling sounds when cooling runs.
- Your evaporator coil is frosty as a result of having difficulty absorbing heat.
Think your unit is leaking refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service expert to take care of the leak and refill the proper amount of refrigerant in your system. Contact us at 812-200-5844 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not having adequate amounts of cold air, there’s potentially an obstruction or disconnection within your AC system.
- The beginning step is checking your air filter. Get a new one if it’s soiled.
- Make sure the ductwork is open throughout your rooms.
- If you’re still not experiencing sufficient cold air, you should have your ducts inspected by a professional like Dearing's Service & Solutions. Your ductwork could need to be repaired or hooked up again in hard-to-reach spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.