Pinpointing the problem and doing your own AC repair in Port Orchard, Washington, can appear like a lot of frustration.
But it doesn’t have to be. There are a few quick fixes you can try by yourself that could help you bypass an AC service call.
When you’re facing air conditioning troubles, try this diagnostic list before getting in touch with a heating and cooling repair expert like Air Masters Heating & Cooling.
Our professionals are available at 360-205-7115 when you are looking for experienced help. We provide emergency AC repair and repair most makes of central AC systems.
CALL TODAY: 360-205-7115
If you want to get an up to date air conditioning system, we also can do AC installation.
When you’re on the phone with us, consider an annual AC maintenance plan that might help you steer clear from later breakdowns. We can advise how often you should have air conditioner service.
Ready to get started finding the problem with your system? Use our easy manual below. Many of these steps don’t require any mechanical expertise.
Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be a couple of explanations why your air conditioning won’t cool: a blown circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Triggered Circuit Breaker
Your system won’t start when you have a blown breaker.
To determine if one has tripped, go to your home’s main electrical panel. You can locate this gray device on the wall in the basem*nt, garage or closet.
- Confirm your hands and feet are dry before you work on the panel or breakers.
- Find the breaker identified “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s tripped the lever will be in the middle of the panel or “off” location.
- Steadily transfer the switch back to the “on” spot. If it immediately triggers again, don’t reset it and contact us at 360-205-7115. A switch that keeps tripping might mean your house has an electrical problem.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t signaling your AC to work, it won’t activate.
The first point is ensuring it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning might not turn on. Or you may have. heated air moving from vents because the heater is going instead.
If you have a traditional thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the monitor is blank. If the monitor is presenting garbled letters, buy a new thermostat.
- Ensure the right program is on the display. If you can’t update it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if programming is wrong.
- Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees cooler than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is set the same as the house’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set correctly, you should begin getting chilled air promptly.
If you rely on a smart thermostat, such as one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you’re still having problems, call us at 360-205-7115 for help.
Turn-Off Switch
Your AC probably has a shut-down lever by its outdoor unit. This lever is typically in a metal box mounted on your home. If your air conditioner has recently been worked on, the lever may have inadvertently been left in the “off” location.
Blocked Condensate Drain Pan
Condensate drain pans hold the additional liquid your air conditioner takes out of the air. This pan can be situated either beneath or within your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a blockage or clogged drain, water can build up and trigger a safety setting to stop your air conditioner.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the surplus water with a special pan-cleaning tablet. You can buy these tabs at a home improvement or hardware retailer.
If your pan involves a pump, find the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you might have to get a new pump. Call us at 360-205-7115 for support.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your AC is working but not delivering cold air, its airflow may be obstructed. Or it might not have sufficient refrigerant.
Blocked Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be reduced by a clogged air filter or dirty condenser.
How to Change Your Air Filter
A dirty filter can cause a lot of troubles, such as:
- Limited airflow
- Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Inconsistent cooling
- Larger cooling bills
- Making your system wear out faster
We propose replacing flat filters monthly, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last replaced yours, turn off your system totally and take out the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be situated in an adjoining filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.
Hold the filter up to your light fixture. If you can’t see through it you should get a new one.
4 Tips on Cleaning Your AC System
Greenery, grass and sticks can get in the way of your condensing equipment. This can restrict its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your equipment operating well again.
- Turn off electricity totally at the breaker or external lever.
- Clear greenery debris around the AC. Once you’ve gotten rid of all the debris within a two-foot range, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to carefully remove dirt from the condenser fins. Distorted fins can also impact effectiveness, so you can attempt to adjust them with a blunt knife.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully remove gunk off the fins from inside the unit. Make sure to avoid getting water on the fan motor.
- Install the top again and turn the power back on.
Low Refrigerant Levels
When air conditioning units don’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll struggle to remove heat and humidity from your home.
Here are several flags that your unit is losing refrigerant:
- It takes too long to refresh your space and you’re regularly decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
- Cooling moving through the ducts isn’t as chilly as it should be.
- You’re experiencing fizzing or burbling noises when the air conditioning is on.
- Your evaporator coil is iced over on account of having difficulty handling heat.
Worried your system is losing refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service specialist to fix the leak and refill the proper level of refrigerant in your equipment. Call us at 360-205-7115 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not getting ample amounts of chilled air, there’s probably an obstruction or detachment somewhere in your cooling system.
- The first stage is examining your air filter. Get a new one if it’s dirty.
- Then ensure the vents are free throughout your home.
- If you’re still not receiving enough chilled air, you should have your ducts checked by a expert like Air Masters Heating & Cooling. Your ducts may need to be serviced or relinked in limited space areas like your attic, basem*nt or crawl space.
Request Pro Air Conditioner Repair Now
When you require air conditioning service quickly, contact the HVAC repair experts at Air Masters Heating & Cooling at 360-205-7115. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.
