AC Not Working? Next steps!

Air Conditioning is an import part of home comfort during the summer months. While an AC is running, it not only keeps the indoor temperature at a comfortable level but also helps de humidify the indoor air. Keeping the indoor air at a comfortable humidity level and temperature for the occupants.

On occasion these AC systems will need maintenance or repairs due to failures.

If you are noticing the indoor air temperature is not lowering, the air coming out of the vents is not cold, the AC unit is making unusual noises or is not working at all. These are all good indicators that there may be an issue with the AC system. If you are experiencing any of these issues, here are some steps you can take before calling a service technician.

1. Check your air filter. A dirty air filter will cause air flow across the indoor evaporator coil to drop. Once air flow drops too low across the indoor coil, the coil will begin to freeze. If the coil freezes it will cause your system to completely stop cooling. If you check the air filter and its dirty, replace the air filter before starting your AC up again.

2. The second item to check is the electrical breaker for the AC unit outside. If the breaker is tripped, this can indicate a high voltage short in the outdoor unit.

3. The third item to check is the thermostat. Insure the thermostat is not blank and is actively calling for cooling. All thermostats will have some sort of indicator to let you know when the call for cooling is active, like a lit up snow flake, or the word "Cooling"displayed. Thermostats do have a 5 minute delay when you first turn your system to cooling mode, this is usually indicated by a flashing Cooling symbol or "System wait". Once the 5 minute delay is satisfied the thermostat will activate the cooling call.

4. The fourth step is checking your condensation drain safety switches or condensation pump. If you have a condensation pump and the pump itself has failed or the drain is clogged, it will cause the safety float switch to shut down your HVAC system to help indicate that there is a problem.

If the AC is still not cooling properly after checking those four items, we recommend calling an AC professional to come and perform more in depth diagnostics. These diagnostics include refrigerant pressure testing, static pressure testing, system inspection and more to help determine the cause of the AC failure.

If you are in need of an AC service or diagnostics, we can help! Our professional and friendly techs can help diagnose your home comfort issue. Give us a call or book us online!

This post is written by Anton Bocharov. Owner of A&B Air Solutions LLC.