When the air conditioning at home doesn’t work, especially during the summers, our first reaction is to panic and start calling the local HVAC contractors. Although there is nothing wrong with that, it so happens that many times the problem is quite small. Some simple steps taken by the homeowners can get the AC working up and again in no time. So, why spend money on the technician fee when you can save it. Though critical here is to remember that you cannot solve all the AC glitches, just a few of them. So when things are out of your scope, they fall in the category of problems to be dealt with by a trained HVAC technician. However, today we are dealing with the first reaction when the AC doesn’t work, what should you do next.
What Should You Do When AC Doesn’t Work?
Here are a couple of things that you can do to try and get your AC functioning. If none of these work you will have to call the air experts.
1. Check The Power Supply – Before jumping to any conclusions, check whether the other appliances in your home are working or not. For all you may know, the air conditioner refuses to work because there is no power. If the other appliances seem to be working fine, check whether the power source to which the AC is connected has not been accidentally switched off. In homes with young kids, more often than not, it happens to be the case. Flipping the switch to the “ON” position will get your AC working once again.
2. Check The Air Filters – The air conditioner needs to be able to breathe in order to work. Quite often in our busy lives and hectic schedules, we forget to take time out to change the air filters. Over time, the filters trap dust and debris and become clogged. When an adequate amount of air is not able to pass through, the system shuts down. It happens to prevent the overheating of the unit. With clogged air filters, the AC has to work longer and harder to maintain the indoor temperature. It puts the unit under tremendous strain and hence, overheating. To avoid such an occurrence, the air filters should preferably be changed every month. However, if that is not possible, they should be changed quarterly.
3. Have a Look At The Circuit Breaker – There are many reasons that can cause the circuit breaker to trip like power surge, short circuit, overheating of AC, or simply wearing out over time. Essentially, when the circuit breaker trips, it cuts the power supply to the unit. Until you flip it back to the “ON” position, the AC will not start. The key here is to notice whether the breaker trips again or not. If it does, you will have to call the technician to figure out its cause. If the circuit breaker trips repeatedly, it is a sign of a problem severe enough to shut down the unit.
4. Clear The Condensate Line – The condensate or moisture generated by the AC usually drains out through the condensate drain line. However, sometimes due to a blockage in the line, it may not happen. So, whenever such obstruction occurs, the float switch trips and shuts down the air conditioner. It trips to prevent any water damage to the unit because of a spill. You can clear the condensate line by sucking out the blockage using a wet and dry vacuum cleaner. Once done, the condensate or the water will drain out on its own, and the air conditioner is back to its usual working self.
5. Clear All Obstructions Around The Outdoor Unit – It is always a good idea to check the outdoor unit. As mentioned above, the AC needs to breathe air in ample quantity to work properly. Mostly, since the unit is outside, one tends to ignore its existence. The outdoor unit is usually exposed to the elements of nature to tends to collect dust and other debris. Sometimes bushes may grow around it, cutting off the air supply or leaves from nearby trees may pile over and around it. Either of these scenarios is not good as it prevents the free flow of air. Clearing all the obstructions around the unit may kickstart the air conditioner.
6. Revisit The Thermostat Settings – Someone may have, knowingly or unknowingly, changed the thermostat settings. So you need to revisit and check the current settings on the thermostat. Ensure that it is set to “COOL” and not “HEAT”. The other thing you would want to check is that the fan should be set to “ON” and not “AUTO”. If you still feel that the AC is not working, turn the temperature down by five degrees. It should ideally kickstart the AC. If not, best check the battery level in the thermostat. Change them, if necessary. If none of these hacks work, you may have to call the technician.
What To Do When Nothing Works?
When none of the above troubleshooting ideas work, you have no option but to call the HVAC technician. Refrain from opening the unit and trying to figure out the problem. The AC is built up of many small parts, and you may accidentally damage one of them. Invariably that will increase the cost of repairs, which may otherwise have been minimal. The AC is not a toy. It is a piece of expensive machinery that demands careful handling by trained and knowledgeable experts.
The Conclusion
There is only so much that you can do to keep your AC running. The one most important thing to do is to see its annual maintenance. Apart from that, you may do just the basic checks, but nothing that requires opening up the unit. If you are still unable to get your unit up and running, call the air conditioning service experts at Aztil Air Conditioning. Our trained and experienced professionals will check out the unit for problems and discuss their findings with you. With your approval, the repairs will be carried out so that you don’t face the problem again. To book an appointment, call us at +1-888-729-8452.
