Having your AC not turn on can be a very frustrating thing. The good news is there are a few things that you can try before you call a professional like Absolute Plumbing & Mechanical to come out and help. It is important that you try all of the steps because often these can fix the problem saving you time, stress and money!
Check Thermostat Settings
If your AC isn’t turning on the first thing you need to check is the thermostat. The thermostat might be set to heat or off. It may be just a simple fix to change the switch to cool to get your AC running. While you are looking at your thermostat, make sure you know what the fan setting is set to. If it is set to “auto” then the fan will only run when the AC is on. If it is set to “on”, then it will continue to run even when the AC isn’t cooling.
Look to See if Circuit Breaker has Tripped
Your air conditioning uses a lot of power through the electrical circuits. If even a brief power surge happens, it can trip the breaker to your AC and stop the electricity from flowing to your AC. When this happens, your AC won’t turn on. Luckily, this is an easy fix and you can just switch the breaker from off to on and it should start again.
Change or Clean Air Filter
Your air filters may seem like something very simple, but they can cause a lot of problems if they are not clean. When the air filters are dirty, it will restrict the airflow which could cause your AC to overheat and eventually shut off. Every 1 to 3 months you should be changing your air filter so that it gives your AC a good airflow to work properly.
Clear Area Around Outside Condenser Unit
Even though your outside unit may be a little bit of an eyesore. You do not want to have landscape blocking it. If landscape or loose leaves and debris are blocking the airflow of the outside unit it can cause problems to your AC. You want to keep at least 2 feet of clearance around the unit so that it gets the proper airflow. You also want to make sure there is plenty of overhead space so that it gives that unit room to breathe.
Try Resetting Air Conditioner
If your AC has started acting strangely after you have had a power surge and your breaker tripped because of this. It could be that you just need to do a hard reset on your air conditioning. It is very simple to do but you need to refer to the owner’s manual to know the specific instructions to make sure you do it correctly.
Make Sure Power Switches are On
You have two power switches that go with your AC. One for the indoor unit and one for the outdoor unit. You need to double-check that both of those switches are on. If one is not on, then your AC will not work.
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If you have tried these few tips to get your AC to work, and it still is not working then give Absolute P&M Services a call and we can come and figure out what is going on with your AC and fix it.