Central Air Conditioner Troubleshooting

If for some reason your central air conditioner is not working right, feel free to read our expert central AC DIY repair techniques. You will save time, money, and most importantly get your home air conditioned again in no time. Before we dive deep into some useful DIY tips, follow the below mentioned instructions if your air conditioning is not working:

• Ensure that the electrical panel is supplying power
• Reset the AC equipment overloads and/or switches
• Look at the thermostat settings
• Look at the condensate overflow switch

If your air conditioning unit is running but does not provide cooled air, try the following:

• Switch off the power
• Change or clean the filter
• Check to see if any ice has formed on the coils.
• If there’s any ice on the coils power on the fan to melt it
• Ensure that the condensate drain is clean
• Double check your outdoor compressor and ensure that it is clean

If the above listed solutions do not work you should try following the instructions below. Some issues that might arise when using a central air conditioning system include:

• Air conditioner does not work at all
• The room temperature is extreme, that is, too hot or too cold
• Air conditioner makes strange noises
• Air conditioner does not cool but is running
• The air conditioner leaks water

Even though you could call an HVAC professional some of the issues you will encounter only need quick and easy fixes.

Air Conditioner Does Not Work At All

If your air conditioner won’t turn on when the thermostat indicates the house should be cooled, try the following:

1. Check both the main and secondary electrical panels for a blown fuse or a tripped breaker. If you find a problem, you will need to switch off the breaker then turn it back on to reset it. Alternatively, you could try a new fuse.In case the circuit continues to trip, you should suspect a short in the capacitor, fan motor, or in the compressor in which case you will need to call an electrician to come and find out where the problem is.
2. Ensure that the temperature setting on the thermostat is set to at least 3 degrees below the room’s temperature, and that the thermostat is set to cool.
3. Ensure that the power is turned on. You can do this by checking the switch on the air handler or on the furnace.
4. After turning off the power to the air conditioner proceed to remove the thermostat’s cover and change the batteries (if it is battery-powered). Ensure that all the wires do not get pinched by the cover and that they remain securely attached to their terminals.

AC Not Cooling Well

If your central air conditioner is not cooling well but it runs, ensure that nothing is limiting or blocking air flow at any point in the system, that is, in the air filters, compressor, or the register. A blower fan that is malfunctioning or a curved/twisted refrigerant line can cause the air conditioner not to cool well.

                How To Check The Indoor Air Handler

1. Before you begin you will need to turn off the furnace or the air handler. If the air handler is a gas furnace, you would need to cut the gas supply by closing the gas valve.
2. Take the door off the air handler so that you can easily access the air filter. Pull out the filter so that you can replace or clean it as necessary.
3. If you spot any ice on the coils, close up the unit and turn on the power as well as the fan. The ice you saw should melt within an hour or two.

Ice in the Air Conditioner Air Handler

There are two things that can cause an air conditioner handler to freeze up:

• Low refrigerant levels which need to be checked by a qualified HVAC professional
• Limited air flow caused by inefficient fans, dirty filters and coils.

In most cases the freezing is caused by limited air flow.

Cleaning Out The Condensate Drain of your central air conditioner

Air conditioners are responsible for removing moisture from air and usually create a lot of water. To get rid of this water they usually have a plastic drain pipe that is connected to the side of the AC’s air handler. With time, it creates the perfect environment for the growth of algae which can block the drain pipe and stop the air conditioner from working. There are some drains that have a float switch which keep the air conditioner from running if the drained water backs up. To avoid getting inconvenienced in future, you need to ensure that your condensate drain is regularly cleaned. If you would like to get an efficient air conditioner for your home please see HVACDirect.com.