Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Cottonwood & Prescott, Arizona, 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 Connolly Electric & Mechanical.

Our experts are standing by at 928-251-4327 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 explanations why your AC unit won’t cool: a triggered circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.

Triggered Circuit Breaker

Your system won’t work when you have an overloaded breaker.

To check if one has blown, go to your residence’s main electrical panel. You can find this silver fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

  • Make sure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you check the panel or breakers.
  • Find the breaker marked “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” position. If it’s triggered the breaker will be in the middle or “off” spot.
  • Quickly move the breaker back to the “on” position. If it immediately triggers again, leave it alone and contact us at 928-251-4327. A fuse that keeps turning off might signal your home has an electrical issue.

Inaccurate Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t signaling your system to start, it won’t activate.

The main step is making sure it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning may not start running. Or you may have. heated air moving from vents since the heater is running instead.

If you’re using a regular thermostat:

  • Swap out the batteries if the monitor is blank. If the monitor is presenting garbled characters, get a new thermostat.
  • Ensure the proper mode is displaying. If you can’t change it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if programming is wrong.
  • Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat matches the room’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is set accurately, you should begin getting cool air fast.

If you rely on a smart thermostat, including ones made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you’re still having problems, contact us at 928-251-4327 for assistance.

Shut-Off Switch

Your cooling equipment probably has a shut-down lever near its condenser. This switch is generally in a metal box attached to your residence. If your unit has recently been fixed, the lever may have accidentally been left in the “off” position.

Clogged Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans hold the extra water your air conditioner pulls from the air. This pan can be positioned either beneath or inside your furnace or air handler.

When there’s an obstruction or backed up drain, water can become concentrated and prompt a safety setting to stop your unit.

If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the additional condensation with a special pan-cleaning tab. You can purchase these capsules at a home improvement or hardware retailer.

If your pan includes a pump, look for the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you might have to install a new pump. Contact us at 928-251-4327 for support.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your air conditioner is working but not cooling, its airflow could be congested. Or it could not have sufficient refrigerant.

Obstructed Airflow

Your equipment’s airflow can be restricted by a clogged air filter or filthy condenser.

How to Change Your Air Filter

A filthy filter can cause many troubles, such as:

  • Lower comfort
  • Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Inconsistent cooling
  • Bigger electricity costs
  • Making your system stop working faster

We suggest installing new flat filters monthly, and creased filters every three months.

If you can’t remember when you last changed yours, switch off your system completely and pull out the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be located in a connected filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.

Hold the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see any light you should replace it.

4 Steps to Cleaning Your Cooling Unit

Weeds, plants and bushes can get in the way of your condensing unit. This can reduce its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s how you can get your system working smoothly again.

  1. Shut off electricity totally at the breaker or outside lever.
  2. Get rid of greenery rubbish around the air conditioner. Once you’ve gotten rid of larger clutter within a two-foot area, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to carefully remove dust from the equipment’s fins. Warped fins can also impact capability, so you can attempt to straighten them with a dinner knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to gingerly clean the fins from inside the equipment. Be careful to avoid getting water on the fan motor.
  4. Install the top again and restore the power.

Leaking Refrigerant

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

Here are a few indications that your system is seeping refrigerant:

  1. It takes an extended amount of time to lower the temperature in your house and you’re constantly lowering the thermostat.
  2. Air moving through the ducts isn’t as chilled as it should be.
  3. You’re experiencing whistling or burbling noises when the AC runs.
  4. Your evaporator coil is frosted on account of having an issue absorbing heat.

Suspect your equipment is losing refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service expert to take care of the leak and restore the right amount of refrigerant in your unit. Get in touch with us at 928-251-4327 for help.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

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

  • The initial stage is looking at your air filter. Replace it if it’s dusty.
  • Then check the vents are free across your house.
  • If you’re still not experiencing ample cold air, you should have your duct system examined by a specialist like Connolly Electric & Mechanical. Your duct system could need to be repaired or hooked up again in difficult areas 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 Connolly Electric & Mechanical at 928-251-4327. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

Request Service