Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of reasons why your air conditioner won’t cool: a tripped circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.
Blown Circuit Breaker
Your AC won’t run when you have an overloaded breaker.
To see if one has tripped, locate your house’s main electrical panel. You can find this gray fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Confirm your hands and feet are dry before you touch the panel or breakers.
- Locate the breaker identified “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s overloaded, the lever will be in the "off" position.
- Quickly transfer the lever back to the “on” position. If it instantaneously trips again, don’t touch it and call us at 505-445-1250. A switch that keeps tripping could mean your house has an electrical problem.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your system to work, it won’t activate.
The first step is making sure it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning may not switch on. You could also have heated air coming from vents because the furnace is running instead.
If you rely on a traditional thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the screen is clear. If the readout is displaying garbled numbers, get a new thermostat.
- Make sure the proper program is showing. If you can’t change it, override it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if programming is incorrect.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat is identical to the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is adjusted accurately, you should begin getting cold air fast.
If you have a smart thermostat, such as one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for help. If you’re still having problems, call us at 505-445-1250 for support.
Shut-Off Switch
Your air conditioner typically has a shut-off switch around its outdoor unit. This device is commonly in a metal box attached to your residence. If your AC has recently been serviced, the lever may have inadvertently been turned off.
Blocked Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans catch the surplus liquid your AC removes from the air. This pan can be situated either beneath or inside your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a blockage or clogged drain, water can accumulate and trigger a safety control to switch off your air conditioner.
If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the surplus water with a custom pan-cleaning tab. You can buy these tablets at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan involves a pump, locate the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you may need to get a new pump. Contact us at 505-445-1250 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your equipment is going but not cooling, its airflow may be obstructed. Or it might not have sufficient refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be reduced by a blocked air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A dusty filter can lead to countless problems, including:
- Lower airflow
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Inconsistent cooling
- Increased cooling costs
- Leading your system to wear out more quickly
We recommend changing flat filters monthly, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last replaced your filter, shut off your unit 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 a connected filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.
Hold the filter up to the light. If you can’t see through it, you certainly should replace it.
How to Clean Your AC System
Greenery, plants and leaves can obstruct your condensing system. This may reduce its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s how you can get your system running smoothly again.
- Shut off the electrical current fully at the breaker or external lever.
- Remove plant rubbish around the unit. Once you’ve gotten rid of all the clutter within a two-foot space, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to slowly remove dirt from the equipment’s fins. Kinked fins can also impact capability.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly remove gunk off the fins from inside the unit. Make sure to avoid getting liquid on the fan motor.
- Turn the power back on.
Insufficient Refrigerant
When AC equipment doesn’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from the air.
Here are a couple of flags that your unit is losing refrigerant:
- It takes too long to lower the temperature in your rooms and you’re continually lowering the thermostat.
- Air coming through the registers isn’t as cold as it should be.
- You’re noticing whistling or bubbling noises when cooling is on.
- Your evaporator coil is frosty because it’s having difficulty taking on humidity.
Worried your unit is seeping refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service specialist to fix the leak and replenish the right amount of refrigerant in your equipment. Call us at 505-445-1250 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not getting ample amounts of cold air, there’s likely a clog or separation inside your air conditioning system.
- The initial step is looking at your air filter. Get a new one if it’s dusty.
- Make sure the ductwork is open throughout your rooms.
- If you’re still not experiencing adequate chilled air, you should have your ducts checked by a expert like I-Deal HVAC. Your ducts could need to be repaired or rejoined in hard-to-reach spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.