Pinpointing the problem and doing your own AC repair in Belton, Missouri, can feel like a lot of guessing.
It doesn’t have to be like that. There are several simple adjustments you can try without help that may help you avoid an AC service call.
When you’re facing air conditioning problems, use this checklist before reaching out to a heating and cooling repair professional like Myers Furnace Company.
Our professionals can be reached at 816-249-1619 when you need knowledgeable service. We offer emergency AC repair and repair most brands of central air conditioning.
If you need a modern air conditioner, we also provide AC installation.
When you’re in contact with us, think about a regular AC maintenance plan that might help you stay away from potential breakdowns. We can let you know how frequently you need air conditioner service.
Prepared to get started diagnosing your air conditioner? Try our fast tips below. Many of these steps don’t require any AC expertise.
Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be several reasons why your AC equipment won’t work: a tripped circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
Your AC won’t start when you have a tripped breaker.
To see if one has blown, find your house’s main electrical panel. You can locate this gray device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you check the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker labeled “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s overloaded the switch will be in the middle of the panel or “off” location.
- Steadily transfer the lever back to the “on” position. If it instantaneously triggers again, don’t touch it and call us at 816-249-1619. A fuse that keeps flipping might mean your house has an electrical problem.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t telling your AC to run, it won’t activate.
The key point is checking it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC will probably not start running. Or you may get. hot air moving from vents because the heater is going instead.
If you rely on a digital thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the readout is empty. If the readout is displaying jumbled numbers, buy a new thermostat.
- Check the right setting is on the display. If you can’t alter it, cancel it by dropping the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if the configuration is incorrect.
- Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees below the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is identical to the space’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set accurately, you should receive cool air quickly.
If you rely on a smart thermostat, such as one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you still can’t get it to work, reach us at 816-249-1619 for assistance.
Shut-Down Switch
Your system typically has a shut-down device near its condenser. This device is commonly in a metal box hung on your residence. If your AC has recently been maintained, the switch may have unintentionally been put in the “off” setting.
Overflowing Condensate Drain Pan
Condensate drain pans keep the surplus liquid your system removes from the air. This pan can be found either below or inside your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a blockage or backed up drain, water can build up and initiate a safety control to stop your air conditioner.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the surplus water with a special pan-cleaning tab. You can buy these tablets at a home improvement or hardware shop.
If your pan includes a pump, find the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you may need to install a new pump. Contact us at 816-249-1619 for help.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your system is on but not delivering cold air, its airflow may be blocked. Or it may not have enough refrigerant.
Clogged Airflow
Your unit’s airflow can be restricted by a blocked air filter or dirty condenser.
How to Change Your Air Filter
A filthy filter can lead to many problems, like:
- Reduced comfort
- Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Intermittent cooling
- Increased energy expenses
- Leading your system to wear out sooner
We recommend installing new flat filters every four weeks, and accordion filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last changed yours, switch off your AC totally and pull out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be situated in an attached filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
Hold the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see any light you should get a new one.
4 Tips on Cleaning Your Air Conditioning System
Weeds, grass and bushes can get in the way of your condensing unit. This could limit its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your system working smoothly again.
- Turn off electricity fully at the breaker or outdoor device.
- Get rid of plant rubbish around the air conditioner. Once you’ve gotten rid of larger debris within a two-foot radius, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dirt from the unit’s fins. Distorted fins can also hurt performance, so you can attempt to correct them with a blunt knife.
- Use a hose nozzle to slowly clean the fins from inside the equipment. Be careful to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
- Put the top back on and turn on the power.
Not Enough Refrigerant
When air conditioning systems don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from the air.
Here are a few signs that your equipment is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes too long to cool your house and you’re continually turning down the thermostat.
- Cooling blowing through the ducts isn’t as chilled as it should be.
- You’re hearing whistling or gurgling racket when the AC runs.
- Your evaporator coil is iced over on account of having trouble absorbing heat.
Think your unit is leaking refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service professional to repair the leak and replenish the proper amount of refrigerant in your unit. Reach us at 816-249-1619 for assistance.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it feels like you’re not receiving ample amounts of cool air, there’s possibly a clog or disconnection somewhere in your air conditioning equipment.
- The first place is checking your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s dusty.
- Then check the ductwork is open around your rooms.
- If you’re still not receiving adequate chilled air, you should have your ductwork checked by a professional like Myers Furnace Company. Your ductwork could need to be repaired or reconnected 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 Myers Furnace Company at 816-249-1619. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.