Air Conditioner Repair Checklist
1. AC Won’t Turn On
There can be several reasons why your AC unit won’t cool: a blown circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a shut off switch or a full condensate drain pan.
Blown Circuit Breaker
Your cooling won’t work when you have a blown breaker.
To find out if one has tripped, go to your residence’s main electrical panel. You can find this gray box 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 marked “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s overloaded, the switch will be in the "off" position.
- Firmly move the lever back to the “on” position. If it immediately triggers again, don’t reset it and get in touch with us at 503-848-3838. A fuse that keeps tripping might signal your residence has an electrical problem.
Inaccurate Thermostat Settings
If your thermostat isn’t telling your system to run, it won’t turn on.
The most important part is ensuring it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC will probably not turn on. You might also have warm air moving from vents since the furnace is on instead.
If you have a digital thermostat:
- Replace the batteries if the monitor is blank. If the screen is displaying scrambled letters, get a new thermostat.
- Check the proper setting is displaying. If you can’t update it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if programming is not right.
- Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat is set the same as the space’s temperature.
Once your thermostat is set correctly, you should start getting cold air quickly.
If you’re using a smart thermostat, such as one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for help. If you’re still having problems, call us at 503-848-3838 for support.
Shut-Down Switch
Your system typically has a shut-off lever around its outdoor unit. This switch is generally in a metal box attached to your home. If your air conditioner has recently been maintained, the device may have inadvertently been turned off.
Blocked Condensate Drain Pan 
Condensate drain pans hold the extra liquid your system removes from the air. This pan can be positioned either beneath or within your furnace or air handler.
When there’s a clog or clogged drain, water can accumulate and initiate a safety control to stop your system.
If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the extra condensation with a formulated pan-cleaning capsule. You can purchase these tabs at a home improvement or hardware store.
If your pan has a pump, look for the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you may need to get a new pump. Reach us at 503-848-3838 for support.
2. AC Blows Warm Air
If your air conditioner is on but not delivering cold air, its airflow might be clogged. Or it could not have adequate refrigerant.
Clogged Airflow
Your equipment’s airflow can be decreased by a clogged air filter or dusty condenser.
How to Replace Your Air Filter
A dusty filter can cause a lot of issues, including:
- Reduced airflow
- Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
- Intermittent cooling
- Increased energy bills
- Leading your system to break down more quickly
We suggest replacing flat filters every four weeks, and pleated filters every three months.
If you can’t remember when you last replaced your filter, shut off your unit fully and take out the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be situated in an adjoining filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.
Hold the filter up to your light fixture. If you can’t see through it, you need to get a new one.
4 Tips on Cleaning Your Air Conditioning Unit
Weeds, grass and leaves can get in the way of your condensing system. This can reduce its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your equipment working well again.
- Switch off the electrical current totally at the breaker or outdoor switch.
- Get rid of greenery debris around the equipment. Once you’ve removed bigger clutter within a two-foot radius, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to slowly remove dust from the unit’s fins. Deformed fins can also hurt capability.
- Use a hose nozzle to carefully clean the fins from inside the equipment. Make sure to avoid getting liquid on the fan motor.
- Restore the power.
Leaking Refrigerant
When air conditioning systems don’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your rooms.
Here are a few symptoms that your system is leaking refrigerant:
- It takes too long to refresh your house and you’re continually decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
- Air moving through the ducts isn’t as cold as it should be.
- You’re noticing hissing or gurgling noises when cooling is on.
- Your evaporator coil is frosted on account of having an issue absorbing heat.
Worried your unit is leaking refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service professional to fix the leak and refill the proper measurement of refrigerant in your unit. Get in touch with us at 503-848-3838 for assistance.
3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air
When it appears like you’re not getting enough chilled air, there’s probably an obstruction or disconnection somewhere in your air conditioning unit.
- The beginning stage is examining your air filter. Get a new one if it’s dirty.
- Make sure the vents are open around your home.
- If you’re still not experiencing sufficient chilled air, you should have your ducts inspected by a pro like Garoken Energy Co. Inc.. Your ductwork might need to be repaired or hooked up again in limited space spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.