Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Mount Hope, West Virginia, 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 Appalachian Heating.

Our experts are standing by at 304-707-0600 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 several reasons why your AC equipment won’t work: an overloaded circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a shut off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.

Triggered Circuit Breaker

Your AC won’t work when you have a tripped breaker.

To see if one has blown, find your residence’s main electrical panel. You can locate this gray fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

  • Ensure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you touch the panel or breakers.
  • Look for the breaker identified “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s overloaded the switch will be in the middle of the panel or “off” spot.
  • Quickly shift the switch back to the “on” location. If it instantaneously triggers again, leave it alone and get in touch with us at 304-707-0600. A fuse that keeps turning off might indicate your home has an electrical issue.

Incorrect Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your system to work, it won’t turn on.

The key point is ensuring it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner might not turn on. Or you may have. heated air coming from vents since the heater is going instead.

If you’re using a regular thermostat:

  • Replace the batteries if the screen is blank. If the monitor is presenting scrambled numbers, buy a new thermostat.
  • Make sure the correct program is showing. 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 the configuration is wrong.
  • Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is set the same as the space’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is set properly, you should start getting refreshing air promptly.

If you have a smart thermostat, including ones manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you’re still having problems, reach us at 304-707-0600 for help.

Shut-Down Switch

Your system typically has a power-cutting device around its outside unit. This lever is typically in a metal box attached to your home. If your equipment has recently been fixed, the switch may have inadvertently been put in the “off” location.

Clogged Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans catch the surplus condensation your AC removes from the air. This pan can be situated either under or inside your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a blockage or clogged drain, water can accumulate and prompt a safety control to switch off your equipment.

If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the extra liquid with a formulated pan-cleaning capsule. You can purchase these tablets at a home improvement or hardware store.

If your pan involves a pump, find the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you might have to install a new pump. Contact us at 304-707-0600 for help.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your air conditioner is going but not cooling, its airflow could be clogged. Or it could not have enough refrigerant.

Clogged Airflow

Your system’s airflow can be decreased by a plugged air filter or dirty condenser.

How to Put in a New Your Air Filter

A dirty filter can create numerous troubles, like:

  • Lower airflow
  • Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Intermittent cooling
  • Bigger utility costs
  • Making your system wear out sooner

We recommend replacing flat filters monthly, and accordion filters every three months.

If you can’t recall when you last replaced yours, switch off your equipment fully and remove the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be located in an adjoining 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 buy a new filter.

How to Clean Your Air Conditioning System

Brush, plants and shrubbery can obstruct your condensing system. This can restrict its airflow, make it less energy efficient and change your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your system operating smoothly again.

  1. Shut off the electrical current completely at the breaker or external device.
  2. Get rid of yard waste around the air conditioner. Once you’ve removed bigger clutter within a two-foot area, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to slowly remove dust from the unit’s fins. Warped fins can also impact effectiveness, so you can attempt to straighten them with a dinner knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to carefully clean the fins from inside the equipment. Don’t get liquid on the fan motor.
  4. Replace the top and turn the power back on.

Leaking Refrigerant

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

Here are several flags that your unit is seeping refrigerant:

  1. It takes an extended amount of time to lower the temperature in your house and you’re regularly lowering the thermostat.
  2. Cooling coming through the registers isn’t as cold as it should be.
  3. You’re hearing fizzing or burbling racket when the air conditioning is on.
  4. Your evaporator coil is frosted due to having an issue taking on humidity.

Think your system is leaking refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service expert to take care of the leak and restore the proper level of refrigerant in your system. Contact us at 304-707-0600 for help.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it feels like you’re not getting adequate amounts of cold air, there’s usually a blockage or separation inside your AC unit.

  • The beginning stage is looking at your air filter. Replace it if it’s filthy.
  • Then ensure the vents are free across your rooms.
  • If you’re still not getting enough cold air, you should have your ductwork examined by a professional like Appalachian Heating. Your ductwork may need to be repaired or reconnected in hard-to-reach locations 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 Appalachian Heating at 304-707-0600. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

Request Service