The Ultimate Guide to Troubleshooting AC Maintenance Issues
The Ultimate Guide to Troubleshooting AC Maintenance Issues
AC Maintenance issues can be very common, annoying and even detrimental. Unfortunately, AC emergencies don’t always happen during normal business hours, so when that’s the case it’s important to learn some troubleshooting AC maintenance techniques before you call your trusted technician.
If Your AC Isn’t Working at All
If you turn on your AC and it isn’t working at all, there may be a number of different causes. Your thermostat may not be working properly or your AC unit may not be receiving electrical power. First, make sure the thermostat is set to cool. Then you can follow these steps:
- Check the electrical panel in your house and any secondary circuit panels for a blown fuse or a tripped breaker. If that’s where your problem lies, then reset the breaker by turning it off or replacing the fuse.
- Is the furnace power switch on? Make sure the switch to both the furnace and outdoor condenser are set to on. You’ll find the on/off switch mounted on the outdoor unit. Make sure it hasn’t been shut off.
- Turn off the power to your air conditioning unit and check the thermostat. Replace the batteries, if your thermostat takes batteries.
Consider the wonders of a programmable thermostat if you are experiencing difficulties with your current thermostat and AC unit.
How a Programmable Thermostat Can Help You Save
If none of these do the job, then it might be an electrical issue with the wiring. We recommend getting a professional involved so you don’t hurt yourself or anyone else around you.
If Your Air Conditioner Doesn’t Seem to Cool Well
If you hear your AC running, but you don’t feel like it’s cooling well, this could also result from a few other issues. One of the first things you should do (and the easiest) is to check the air filter. Make sure it’s clean and receives proper air flow. Here is some more information on air filter maintenance and questions from our website:
4 Signs It’s time to Change Your Air Filter
- Turn off power to the AC unit.
- Remove the door so you can get to the air filter.
- Look for ice in the areas around the coils. If you see ice, close the unit back up, turn the power back on and turn on the fan. This should allow the ice to melt within an hour or two.
- Clear the condensate drain. Air conditioners can have a lot of water build-up because they remove moisture from the air. They have a plastic drain pipe that comes out of the side of the air handler to remove excess water. However, algae can build up and block this pipe. When this happens, the AC stops working. For more information on why your AC is leaking water, turn to one of our blogs: Why Your AC is Leaking Water.
If Your Air Conditioner Doesn’t Blow Air
If water is dripping or pooling at the base of your AC’s air handler, one of the plastic tubes that carries the excess moisture may be blocking the water’s flow. If the condensate pump stops working, the water will overflow.
There may be a few reasons this problem occurs. We recommend calling your AC professional. They will either need to replace part of the air handler or condensate drain or fix some wiring issues.
If your air handler is freezing up, check out one of our informative blogs.
Why Your Air Handler Is Freezing Up
We clean and repair condensate drain lines as well as a wide range of other services.
If Your Air Conditioner Doesn’t Make Noise
If your AC isn’t making noise, there could be a variety of solutions. Older units have belt-driven motors. If you hear a squealing noise from your belt-driven AC unit, that most likely means the belt that connects the motor to the blower has slipped out of place.
In most cases, the belt may be improperly aligned or needs to be replaced.
If you have a newer AC model that doesn’t use belts for the motor and you’re hearing a noise, it could be that the motor’s bearings are shot. Call your trusted technician to help you with this problem.
Call WEATHER ENGINEERS in Brevard County for Any of Your AC Issues
We are passionate about restoring your quality of life in your home. If you are in the Brevard County area and are in need of AC maintenance or an emergency issue, please do not hesitate to call us.
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