Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be several explanations why your air conditioner won’t work: a triggered circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a turned off switch or a full condensate drain pan.
Blown Circuit Breaker
Your cooling won’t work when you have an overloaded breaker.
To determine if one has tripped, go to your home’s main electrical panel. You can locate this silver box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you work on the panel or breakers.
- Find the breaker labeled “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s overloaded, the lever will be in the "off" position.
- Steadily shift the breaker back to the “on” location. If it instantly flips again, leave it alone and get in touch with us at 205-208-8090. A breaker that keeps turning off may signal your home has an electrical issue.
Inaccurate Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t telling your system to start, it won’t switch on.
The first point is making sure it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC will probably not start running. You could also get hot air moving from vents since the furnace is going instead.
If you rely on a digital thermostat:
- Put in new batteries if the screen is blank. If the screen is displaying scrambled letters, buy a new thermostat.
- Ensure the right option is displaying. If you can’t alter it, reverse it by dropping the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if scheduling is incorrect.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat matches the room’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is adjusted accurately, you should start getting chilled air quickly.
If you’re using a smart thermostat, including ones manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for help. If it still won’t work, call us at 205-208-8090 for support.
Shut-Down Switch
Your AC usually has a power-cutting lever around its outdoor unit. This switch is commonly in a metal box hung on your house. If your equipment has recently been fixed, the device may have accidentally been turned off.
Blocked Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans hold the extra liquid your equipment pulls from the air. This pan can be found either beneath or within your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a clog or backed up drain, water can build up and initiate a safety control to stop your equipment.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the extra liquid with a custom pan-cleaning capsule. You can get these capsules at a home improvement or hardware store.
If your pan includes a pump, look for the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you could need to replace the pump. Contact us at 205-208-8090 for assistance.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your AC is on but not delivering cold air, its airflow may be clogged. Or it could not have adequate refrigerant.
Obstructed Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be reduced by a blocked air filter or filthy condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A filthy filter can create a lot of issues, such as:
- Lower airflow
- Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Uneven cooling
- Increased cooling expenses
- Making your system stop working more quickly
We suggest changing flat filters every four weeks, and pleated filters every three months.
If you aren’t sure when you last replaced your filter, shut off your unit fully 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 an attached filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.
Angle the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see any light, you certainly should replace it.
How to Clean Your AC Unit
Greenery, vegetation and leaves can get in the way of your condensing unit. This can reduce its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your system working properly again.
- Turn off the electrical current fully at the breaker or external switch.
- Clear vegetation debris around the equipment. Once you’ve gotten rid of bigger clutter within a two-foot area, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to slowly remove dirt from the equipment’s fins. Bent fins can also impact efficiency.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly remove gunk off the fins from inside the equipment. Don’t get water on the fan motor.
- Turn the power back on.
Leaking Refrigerant
When cooling units don’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your home.
Here are a couple of flags that your system is losing refrigerant:
- It takes an extended amount of time to cool your house and you’re regularly turning down the thermostat.
- Air moving through the vents isn’t as cold as it should be.
- You’re experiencing hissing or gurgling racket when the AC runs.
- Your evaporator coil is frozen on account of having an issue absorbing humidity.
Think your unit is losing refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service specialist to take care of the leak and replenish the correct measurement of refrigerant in your system. Contact us at 205-208-8090 for help.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not receiving enough cool air, there’s probably a blockage or separation within your air conditioning unit.
- The beginning step is checking your air filter. Get a new one if it’s dirty.
- Make sure the vents are open across your rooms.
- If you’re still not experiencing sufficient cold air, you should have your duct system inspected by a pro like KDM Service Corporation. Your duct system might need to be serviced or rejoined in tricky locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.