It’s the hottest day of the summer, and your air conditioner won’t turn on. Talk about a nightmare! What’s the problem? And is there any way for you to troubleshoot your system before calling for the pros?
When your AC breaks down or malfunctions, you can take many steps to (try to) bring the chill back to your home. It may even be easier than you’d expect. All you need is to know what to look for.
Read the Thermostat
Sometimes the right answer is the easiest one. If your air conditioner isn’t turning on, it might be because someone or something changed the thermostat settings. So before you roll up your sleeves and get into the nitty-gritty of troubleshooting your AC, make sure that your thermostat is on COOL. You want the temperature to be at least five degrees below the current climate. If that doesn’t help, you can move on to something else.
Check Your Air Filter(s)
You should be changing the air filter in your air conditioner about twice a year, and even more often if you have pets or people with allergies in your home. When you leave your air filter unattended for long enough, it gathers dust and particulates. Eventually, the clogged filter will restrict your air conditioner’s airflow so severely that it’ll turn itself off.
Every AC is different. If you don’t know how to check your air filter or want a professional to do it for you, call Rowland Air.
Consider Power Surges
When a power surge happens, it has the potential to affect the functionality of your air conditioner. So if your AC isn’t turning on and you don’t know why, the answer may lie in your electrical system. The excess voltage could’ve tripped the fuse at the outside unit or the main circuit breaker. You can reset the circuit breaker and see if that solves the problem. If it doesn’t, you can move on to..
Look for Clogs and Buildup
There’s a near-constant flow of moisture and air cycling through your air conditioner unit. When a part of that is interrupted, the effects ripple out to the rest of the cooling system. You can check the inner mechanics of your system for signs of freezing or any clogs that can block airflow. If you find it, you can gently clean the dirt or leave your air conditioner to thaw for up to 24 hours.
If you’re not sure how to check the internal components of your AC, give your HVAC team a call. They’ll get to the bottom of your problem in no time.
When All Else Fails
If you still don’t have a functioning air conditioner after you do all of that, that means the problem is more complicated than you can handle. And that’s okay! An HVAC contractor specialized in air conditioner repair (like Rowland Air, for example) can spot any AC problem in a manner of minutes. Even if you don’t know why your air conditioner won’t turn on, the right technician will treat the problem quickly.