Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Lancaster, Ohio, 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 Fairfield Heating & Cooling.

Our experts are standing by at 740-331-4331 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 air conditioning system won’t run: an overloaded circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a turned off switch or a full condensate drain pan.

Tripped Circuit Breaker

Your air conditioner won’t run when you have a tripped breaker.

To determine if one has gotten overloaded, find your home’s main electrical panel. You can spot this silver box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

  • Ensure your hands and feet are dry before you work on the panel or breakers.
  • Locate the breaker marked “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s overloaded the breaker will be in the middle of the panel or “off” position.
  • Firmly move the breaker back to the “on” location. If it instantaneously trips again, don’t reset it and get in touch with us at 740-331-4331. A fuse that keeps tripping could indicate your residence has an electrical issue.

Incorrect Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t telling your system to work, it won’t turn on.

The main step is ensuring it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning may not turn on. Or you may have. warm air moving from vents being the heater is running instead.

If you rely on a regular thermostat:

  • Put in new batteries if the screen is empty. If the screen is displaying garbled characters, replace the thermostat.
  • Make sure the proper mode is on the display. If you can’t change it, override it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if the configuration is incorrect.
  • Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is identical to the room’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is set correctly, you should start getting cold air quickly.

If you have a smart thermostat, such as one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you’re still having problems, contact us at 740-331-4331 for support.

Shut-Off Switch

Your air conditioner typically has a shut-off lever around its outside unit. This lever is generally in a metal box hung on your home. If your air conditioner has recently been tuned up, the switch may have inadvertently been put in the “off” setting.

Blocked Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans hold the extra water your equipment takes out of the air. This pan can be found either beneath or within your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a clog or blocked drain, water can build up and prompt a safety feature to switch off your equipment.

If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the extra water with a special pan-cleaning tablet. You can purchase these capsules at a home improvement or hardware store.

If your pan includes a pump, look for the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you might have to get a new pump. Call us at 740-331-4331 for help.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your equipment is working but not delivering cold air, its airflow could be obstructed. Or it could not have sufficient refrigerant.

Clogged Airflow

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

How to Change Your Air Filter

A dusty filter can cause countless issues, including:

  • Lower cooling
  • Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Uneven cooling
  • Larger energy bills
  • Causing your system to break down sooner

We propose installing new flat filters once a month, and accordion filters every three months.

If you aren’t sure when you last changed yours, shut off your unit totally and remove 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.

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

4 Steps to Cleaning Your AC System

Weeds, grass and leaves can get in the way of your condensing unit. This can limit its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your unit working properly again.

  1. Shut off the electrical current completely at the breaker or outdoor switch.
  2. Clear vegetation debris around the air conditioner. Once you’ve removed all the debris within a two-foot range, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dust from the equipment’s fins. Misshapen fins can also hurt effectiveness, so you can attempt to adjust them with a small knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to slowly remove gunk off the fins from inside the system. Don’t get moisture on the fan motor.
  4. Replace the top and restore the power.

Not Enough Refrigerant

When cooling units don’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll struggle to remove heat and humidity from your residence.

Here are several flags that your system is losing refrigerant:

  1. It takes a long time to lower the temperature in your home and you’re continually decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
  2. Air moving through the vents isn’t as chilled as it should be.
  3. You’re experiencing whistling or bubbling noises when the air conditioning runs.
  4. Your evaporator coil is frosty as a result of having difficulty taking on humidity.

Worried your equipment is losing refrigerant? You need a qualified heating and cooling service expert to take care of the leak and restore the proper level of refrigerant in your unit. Call us at 740-331-4331 for assistance.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it seems like you’re not getting enough cold air, there’s potentially a blockage or separation inside your air conditioning system.

  • The beginning place is examining your air filter. Replace it if it’s soiled.
  • Then make sure the ductwork is free throughout your home.
  • If you’re still not getting sufficient cold air, you should have your duct system examined by a expert like Fairfield Heating & Cooling. Your ductwork could need to be serviced or relinked 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 Fairfield Heating & Cooling at 740-331-4331. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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