Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a few reasons why your air conditioner won’t cool: an overloaded circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Your air conditioning won’t turn on when you have an overloaded breaker.
To check if one has tripped, locate your home’s main electrical panel. You can find this silver device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Confirm your hands and feet are free of moisture before you touch the panel or breakers.
- Find the breaker identified “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s overloaded, the lever will be in the "off" position.
- Firmly move the lever back to the “on” position. If it instantaneously trips again, don’t reset it and reach us at 402-438-7992. A fuse that keeps flipping might signal your home has electrical trouble.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your equipment to start, it won’t activate.
The most important point is making sure it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning might not switch on. You may also have warm air coming from vents since the furnace is going instead.
If you have a digital thermostat:
- Swap out the batteries if the monitor is empty. If the screen is showing scrambled numbers, buy a new thermostat.
- Ensure the proper option is showing. If you can’t change it, override it by lowering the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if the configuration is wrong.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is identical to the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is adjusted accurately, you should begin getting chilled air fast.
If you’re using a smart thermostat, such as one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for help. If you’re still having problems, reach us at 402-438-7992 for help.
Turn-Off Switch
Your system typically has a shut-down switch around its outside unit. This lever is generally in a metal box mounted on your residence. If your air conditioner has recently been maintained, the device may have accidentally been turned off.
Blocked Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans hold the additional liquid your system pulls from the air. This pan is located either under or inside your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a clog or blocked drain, water can build up and trigger a safety setting to stop your unit.
If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the additional water with a special pan-cleaning tab. You can get these tabs at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan involves a pump, find the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you could need to replace the pump. Call us at 402-438-7992 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is working but not cooling, its airflow may be congested. Or it may not have enough refrigerant.
Obstructed Airflow
Your unit’s airflow can be limited by a blocked air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Put in a New Your Air Filter
A dirty filter can cause numerous troubles, including:
- Reduced airflow
- Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Larger utility bills
- Leading your system to break down faster
We propose installing new flat filters every four weeks, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t recall when you last replaced your filter, shut off your unit totally and pull out the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be situated in a connected filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
Hold the filter up to your light fixture. If you see a lot of dust, you need to buy a new filter.
4 Steps to Cleaning Your Cooling System
Weeds, vegetation and leaves can block your condensing system. This can limit its airflow, make it less energy efficient and change your comfort. Here’s how you can get your unit operating well again.
- Shut off electricity fully at the breaker or external switch.
- Clear yard debris around the AC. Once you’ve cleared bigger clutter within a two-foot radius, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to slowly clean the unit’s fins. Distorted fins can also impact performance.
- Use a hose nozzle to gingerly take off dirt on the fins from inside the system. Be careful to avoid getting water on the fan motor.
- Restore the power.
Leaking Refrigerant
When AC equipment doesn’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your residence.
Here are a couple of indications that your unit is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to refresh your house and you’re continually decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
- Air moving through the registers isn’t as chilled as it should be.
- You’re hearing hissing or gurgling racket when the AC is on.
- Your evaporator coil is iced over as a result of having trouble handling humidity.
Worried your unit is losing refrigerant? You need a qualified heating and cooling service professional to fix the leak and refill the proper level of refrigerant in your system. Call us at 402-438-7992 for support.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it seems like you’re not receiving ample amounts of cool air, there’s potentially an obstruction or detachment inside your AC system.
- The beginning step is looking at your air filter. Get a new one if it’s soiled.
- Make sure the registers are open throughout your home.
- If you’re still not experiencing sufficient chilly air, you should have your duct system checked by a pro like AW Heating & Air Conditioning. Your ducts might need to be repaired or reconnected in difficult locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.