Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Lincoln, Nebraska, can appear like a lot of hassle.

There’s a better way. There are several quick remedies you can attempt by yourself that might help you get out of an AC service call.

When you’re having air conditioning issues, try this checklist before calling a heating and cooling repair professional like AW Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our experts are standing by at 402-438-7992 when you need expert service. We have emergency AC repair and work on most brands of central AC equipment.

If you want to get an up to date air conditioner, we also provide AC installation.

When you’re in contact with us, contemplate a yearly AC maintenance plan that may help you keep clear of future malfunctions. We can advise how often you need air conditioner service.

Ready to get started troubleshooting your system? Try our fast tips below. Many of these procedures don’t require any HVAC knowledge.

Air Conditioner Repair Checklist

1. AC Won’t Turn On

There can be a couple of causes why your central AC system won’t start: a triggered 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 a tripped breaker.

To check if one has blown, find your house’s main electrical panel. You can find this silver box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

  • Make sure your hands and feet are dry before you check the panel or breakers.
  • Locate the breaker labeled “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s tripped the lever will be in the middle or “off” location.
  • Steadily move the switch back to the “on” position. If it instantly flips again, don’t touch it and contact us at 402-438-7992. A fuse that keeps tripping might indicate your house has an electrical issue.

Wrong Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your air conditioner to run, it won’t activate.

The main part is making sure it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner may not switch on. Or you may receive. hot air blowing from vents because the furnace is running instead.

If you’re using a regular thermostat:

  • Swap out the batteries if the monitor is empty. If the readout is showing scrambled characters, replace the thermostat.
  • Make sure the proper setting is showing. If you can’t change it, reverse it by dropping the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if programming is wrong.
  • Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat is set the same as the room’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is adjusted correctly, you should receive cool air promptly.

If you have a smart thermostat, such as one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you still can’t get it to work, call us at 402-438-7992 for support.

Shut-Off Switch

Your AC usually has a shut-down switch near its outdoor unit. This switch is generally in a metal box mounted on your home. If your air conditioner has recently been repaired, the switch may have accidentally been left in the “off” setting.

Clogged Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans keep the additional liquid your system removes from the air. This pan can be found either under or within your furnace or air handler.

When there’s an obstruction or backed up drain, water can become concentrated and trigger a safety control to turn off your system.

If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the extra water with a formulated pan-cleaning tab. You can purchase these tabs at a home improvement or hardware retailer.

If your pan includes a pump, find the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you might have to install a new pump. Call us at 402-438-7992 for assistance.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your equipment is going but not delivering cold air, its airflow may be clogged. Or it might not have adequate refrigerant.

Obstructed Airflow

Your unit’s airflow can be limited by a plugged air filter or dirty condenser.

How to Change Your Air Filter

A filthy filter can cause numerous troubles, like:

  • Limited cooling
  • Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Inconsistent cooling
  • Higher cooling bills
  • Causing your system to wear out sooner

We propose replacing flat filters monthly, and creased filters every three months.

If you can’t remember when you last installed a new one, switch off your equipment fully and take out the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be found in an adjoining filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.

Tilt the filter up to the light. If you can’t see through it you should get a new one.

How to Clean Your Air Conditioning Equipment

Brush, plants and bushes can get in the way of your condensing system. This may restrict its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s how you can get your equipment running smoothly again.

  1. Turn off electricity fully at the breaker or external lever.
  2. Clear vegetation debris around the AC. Once you’ve cleared all the clutter within a two-foot range, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to slowly remove dirt from the condenser fins. Distorted fins can also affect capability, so you can attempt to correct them with a blunt knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to gingerly remove gunk off the fins from inside the equipment. Don’t get moisture on the fan motor.
  4. Replace the top and turn the power back on.

Insufficient Refrigerant

When AC systems don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your space.

Here are a couple of indications that your system is seeping refrigerant:

  1. It takes too long to refresh your residence and you’re continually turning down the thermostat.
  2. Air coming through the vents isn’t as cold as it should be.
  3. You’re hearing fizzing or burbling noises when the AC is on.
  4. Your evaporator coil is iced over as a result of having an issue handling warmth.

Suspect your equipment is losing refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service expert to fix the leak and refill the right measurement of refrigerant in your system. Call us at 402-438-7992 for support.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it appears like you’re not receiving enough chilled air, there’s potentially a clog or disconnection within your AC equipment.

  • The first stage is looking at your air filter. Get a new one if it’s filthy.
  • Then make sure the registers are open across your home.
  • If you’re still not getting adequate chilly air, you should have your ductwork inspected by a professional like AW Heating & Air Conditioning. Your ductwork could need to be repaired or hooked up again in limited space areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.

Request Pro Air Conditioner Repair Now

When you require air conditioning service quickly, contact the HVAC repair experts at AW Heating & Air Conditioning at 402-438-7992. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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