It’s a hot summer day, and you go to turn on your air conditioner, expecting nice, cool air, only to be met with nothing. If your AC isn’t turning on, luckily, there are a few things you can check and troubleshoot by yourself before bringing in a professional.
Check the Thermostat
It might sound silly, but you would be surprised how many people forget to check if their thermostat is on the correct settings. First, make sure that you set your thermostat to COOL and then set the temperature to at least 5 degrees below the current temperature inside your home. If, after a minute or two, the air conditioner still doesn’t kick on, check the batteries in your thermostat and make sure they aren’t dead. If that still doesn’t solve the issue, move on to one of these next steps.
Check the Air Filter
When is the last time you checked your air filter? If your air filter is covered in dust and debris, it might be the reason why your air conditioner isn’t working. For proper AC maintenance, you should check and clean your air filter at least once every three months, and maybe even more during the summer when your AC is on constantly.
Look for a Blown Fuse or Tripped Circuit Breaker
If you’ve experienced a power surge recently, your AC unit could have blown a fuse or tripped a circuit breaker. Check your unit’s shutoff box and see if a fuse needs to be replaced, or check the main circuit breaker and look for a tripped circuit that needs to be turned back on.
Check the Emergency Shut Off Switch
Most air conditioner units will typically have a shutoff switch near the outdoor unit. Sometimes, if you have recently had maintenance or repairs done on your air conditioner, it could have been left off by accident, so it is always good to check.
Check the Inside Unit’s Power Switch
There is also a power switch inside your home, usually in an attic, crawl space, or closet. It typically looks like a regular light switch, so often, people will accidentally flip it off without realizing it. So again, it’s best to check and make sure everything is turned on like it’s supposed to be.
Make Sure It Isn’t Clogged
When your air conditioner runs, it creates condensation that runs out of your home through a drain line. If the line becomes clogged, it will trip a safety switch that shuts down your air conditioner. If this is the case for you, it can easily be solved using a wet/dry vacuum to clear out the blockage and unclog the drain line.
Look for a RESET Button
Sometimes solving the problem is as easy as turning it off and turning it back on again. For example, some AC units have a RESET switch on the outside of the unit. If yours doesn’t, you can also turn off your AC at your thermostat, wait a few minutes, and then turn it back on again to see if anything happens.
Call a Professional to Take a Look
If you’ve checked and tried everything listed above, but your air conditioner still won’t turn on, it’s time to call in the professionals. This could be a sign that there is a larger issue happening with your air conditioner. Supreme offers local, 24-hour AC repair services. So, if your AC unit is struggling to keep your home cool, give us a call and let us take a look today.
