Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Hendersonville, North Carolina, 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 Superior Comfort Systems.

Our experts are standing by at 828-202-7025 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 few causes why your AC unit won’t work: an overloaded circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a switched off switch or a full condensate drain pan.

Overloaded Circuit Breaker

Your air conditioning won’t turn on when you have a tripped breaker.

To check if one has gotten overloaded, go to your house’s main electrical panel. You can spot this gray device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

  • Make sure your hands and feet are dry before you check the panel or breakers.
  • Look for the breaker labeled “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” position. If it’s tripped the lever will be in the middle of the panel or “off” spot.
  • Steadily shift the lever back to the “on” position. If it instantly triggers again, leave it alone and contact us at 828-202-7025. A switch that keeps tripping might signal your residence has an electrical problem.

Incorrect Thermostat Settings

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

The first part is ensuring it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC will probably not turn on. Or you may receive. heated air blowing from vents being the heat is on instead.

If you have a traditional thermostat:

  • Put in new batteries if the readout is empty. If the readout is showing garbled numbers, buy a new thermostat.
  • Ensure the proper setting is displaying. If you can’t change it, override it by dropping the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if the configuration is wrong.
  • Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is set the same as the space’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is adjusted accurately, you should begin getting chilled air fast.

If you rely on a smart thermostat, like one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you’re still having problems, contact us at 828-202-7025 for assistance.

Shut-Down Switch

Your system probably has a shut-down switch around its condenser. This switch is generally in a metal box attached to your house. If your unit has recently been tuned up, the lever may have inadvertently been left in the “off” location.

Blocked Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans keep the extra water your system removes from the air. This pan is located either under or inside your furnace or air handler.

When there’s an obstruction or blocked drain, water can become concentrated and initiate a safety feature to turn off your system.

If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the extra condensation with a custom pan-cleaning tab. You can get these tablets 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 get a new pump. Call us at 828-202-7025 for support.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your air conditioner is working but not delivering cold air, its airflow may be clogged. Or it might not have sufficient refrigerant.

Obstructed Airflow

Your unit’s airflow can be limited by a blocked air filter or dirty condenser.

How to Replace Your Air Filter

A dusty filter can cause many issues, like:

  • Limited airflow
  • Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Intermittent cooling
  • Larger utility bills
  • Making your system wear out faster

We recommend replacing flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.

If you can’t recall when you last installed a new one, shut off your equipment completely and take out the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be situated in a connected filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.

Tilt the filter up to your light fixture. If you can’t see any light you should buy a new filter.

4 Steps to Cleaning Your Air Conditioning System

Brush, plants and sticks can block your condensing system. This can reduce its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your system working well again.

  1. Shut off electricity completely at the breaker or external switch.
  2. Clear vegetation rubbish around the equipment. Once you’ve removed all the clutter within a two-foot area, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to gingerly clean the condenser fins. Misshapen fins can also affect capability, so you can attempt to reshape them with a dinner knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to carefully clean the fins from inside the unit. Be careful to avoid getting liquid on the fan motor.
  4. Install the top again and turn the power back on.

Insufficient Refrigerant

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

Here are a couple of symptoms that your unit is seeping refrigerant:

  1. It takes a long time to lower the temperature in your house and you’re constantly turning down the thermostat.
  2. Cooling moving through the registers isn’t as chilled as it should be.
  3. You’re hearing hissing or bubbling noises when cooling runs.
  4. Your evaporator coil is frosty due to having an issue handling heat.

Worried your system is seeping refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service expert to fix the leak and refill the right level of refrigerant in your equipment. Get in touch with us at 828-202-7025 for support.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it appears like you’re not receiving enough cold air, there’s usually a blockage or separation inside your air conditioning system.

  • The beginning place is checking your air filter. Replace it if it’s filthy.
  • Then make sure the vents are clear around your residence.
  • If you’re still not receiving adequate chilly air, you should have your ducts inspected by a expert like Superior Comfort Systems. Your duct system could need to be serviced or reconnected in hard-to-reach 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 Superior Comfort Systems at 828-202-7025. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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