Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Genoa, Illinois, 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 Assured Appliance & Heating & Air.

Our experts are standing by at 847-306-8990 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 a couple of explanations why your air conditioner won’t work: an overloaded circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a shut off switch or a full condensate drain pan.

Tripped Circuit Breaker

Your AC won’t turn on when you have a blown breaker.

To determine if one has blown, go to your home’s main electrical panel. You can spot this silver box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

  • Make sure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you touch the panel or breakers.
  • Look for the breaker identified “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s tripped the lever will be in the middle or “off” position.
  • Steadily shift the switch back to the “on” location. If it instantly triggers again, leave it alone and contact us at 847-306-8990. A breaker that keeps tripping may indicate your residence has an electrical issue.

Incorrect Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t telling your air conditioner to start, it won’t activate.

The most important point is making sure it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC may not turn on. Or you could have. hot air coming from vents being the heat is going instead.

If you rely on a digital thermostat:

  • Put in new batteries if the readout is blank. If the screen is showing jumbled numbers, buy a new thermostat.
  • Check the right setting is on the display. If you can’t alter it, reverse it by dropping the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if the configuration is incorrect.
  • Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is set the same as the house’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is calibrated properly, you should start getting refreshing air quickly.

If you have a smart thermostat, such as one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you still can’t get it to work, call us at 847-306-8990 for assistance.

Shut-Down Switch

Your cooling equipment typically has a power-cutting device by its outside unit. This lever is generally in a metal box mounted on your residence. If your equipment has recently been worked on, the lever may have unintentionally been placed in the “off” position.

Blocked Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans catch the additional liquid your AC removes from the air. This pan can be situated either under or within your furnace or air handler.

When there’s an obstruction or backed up drain, water can accumulate and prompt a safety setting to turn off your air conditioner.

If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the extra condensation with a special pan-cleaning tablet. You can buy these tabs at a home improvement or hardware retailer.

If your pan has a pump, look for the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you could need to replace the pump. Contact us at 847-306-8990 for help.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your system is on but not providing cold air, its airflow could be obstructed. Or it could not have enough refrigerant.

Clogged Airflow

Your system’s airflow can be restricted by a plugged air filter or filthy condenser.

How to Replace Your Air Filter

A filthy filter can cause countless issues, including:

  • Limited airflow
  • Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Inconsistent cooling
  • Larger energy expenses
  • Causing your system to break down faster

We propose replacing flat filters once a month, and accordion filters every three months.

If you can’t remember when you last installed a new one, shut off your system completely and take out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be found in an adjoining filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.

Angle the filter up to your light fixture. If you see a lot of dust you certainly should buy a new filter.

4 Steps to Cleaning Your Air Conditioning System

Weeds, vegetation and shrubbery can get in the way of your condensing system. This can reduce its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your unit working properly again.

  1. Turn off electricity completely at the breaker or outdoor switch.
  2. Clear vegetation rubbish around the air conditioner. Once you’ve cleared bigger clutter within a two-foot range, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to slowly clean the unit’s fins. Deformed fins can also affect performance, so you can attempt to reshape them with a blunt knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to carefully remove gunk off the fins from inside the unit. Be careful to avoid getting liquid on the fan motor.
  4. Put the top back on and turn on the power.

Insufficient Refrigerant

When cooling systems don’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your residence.

Here are several indications that your equipment is leaking refrigerant:

  1. It takes a long time to refresh your residence and you’re constantly decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
  2. Cooling moving through the registers isn’t as chilly as it should be.
  3. You’re experiencing fizzing or bubbling sounds when the AC works.
  4. Your evaporator coil is frozen on account of having difficulty taking on heat.

Worried your unit is seeping refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service professional to repair the leak and restore the proper amount of refrigerant in your system. Reach us at 847-306-8990 for assistance.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it feels like you’re not receiving ample amounts of cool air, there’s usually an obstruction or detachment somewhere in your cooling equipment.

  • The initial place is checking your air filter. Replace it if it’s dirty.
  • Then check the vents are open across your house.
  • If you’re still not experiencing sufficient cold air, you should have your ducts examined by a professional like Assured Appliance & Heating & Air. Your ductwork could need to be fixed or relinked in tricky spots 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 Assured Appliance & Heating & Air at 847-306-8990. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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