Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Phoenix, 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 Dial One Mears Air Conditioning & Heating Inc.

Our experts are standing by at 602-789-3315 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 run: a triggered circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.

Overloaded Circuit Breaker

Your air conditioning won’t work when you have a blown breaker.

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

  • Make sure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you check the panel or breakers.
  • Locate the breaker marked “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s tripped the lever will be in the middle or “off” spot.
  • Firmly transfer the switch back to the “on” location. If it immediately trips again, leave it alone and get in touch with us at 602-789-3315. A fuse that keeps turning off may indicate your residence has an electrical issue.

Incorrect Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your AC to run, it won’t switch on.

The first part is ensuring it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning will probably not start running. Or you could get. heated air blowing from vents being the furnace is on instead.

If you have a digital thermostat:

  • Replace the batteries if the monitor is empty. If the monitor is displaying scrambled characters, buy a new thermostat.
  • Make sure the right mode is displaying. If you can’t alter it, override it by decreasing the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if scheduling is incorrect.
  • Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is identical to the space’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is adjusted properly, you should receive refreshing air promptly.

If you rely on a smart thermostat, including ones manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for help. If it still won’t work, reach us at 602-789-3315 for assistance.

Shut-Off Switch

Your air conditioner typically has a shut-down device by its outdoor unit. This lever is generally in a metal box attached to your home. If your air conditioner has recently been tuned up, the device may have accidentally been put in the “off” location.

Clogged Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans catch the extra condensation your air conditioner takes out of the air. This pan is located either under or inside your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a blockage or backed up drain, water can build up and trigger a safety setting to stop your unit.

If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the extra condensation with a formulated pan-cleaning capsule. You can get these capsules at a home improvement or hardware store.

If your pan includes a pump, find the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you may need to replace the pump. Call us at 602-789-3315 for support.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your equipment is going but not cooling, its airflow might be congested. Or it may not have adequate refrigerant.

Obstructed Airflow

Your equipment’s airflow can be decreased by a plugged air filter or dusty condenser.

How to Change Your Air Filter

A dirty filter can create a lot of problems, like:

  • Lower comfort
  • Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Intermittent cooling
  • Increased electricity bills
  • Causing your system to stop working faster

We suggest installing new flat filters every four weeks, and pleated filters every three months.

If you can’t recall when you last installed a new one, switch off your unit totally and remove the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be situated in an attached filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.

Hold the filter up to the sunshine. If you see a lot of dust you need to replace it.

How to Clean Your AC Unit

Greenery, vegetation and shrubbery can get in the way of your condensing equipment. This can limit its airflow, make it less energy efficient and change your comfort. Here’s how you can get your unit operating smoothly again.

  1. Turn off power completely at the breaker or external device.
  2. Remove yard debris around the unit. Once you’ve cleared bigger debris within a two-foot radius, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dirt from the condenser fins. Deformed fins can also hurt performance, so you can attempt to correct them with a dinner knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to slowly take off dirt on the fins from inside the unit. Be careful to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
  4. Replace the top and turn the power back on.

Not Enough Refrigerant

When air conditioning units don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from the air.

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

  1. It takes too long to cool your rooms and you’re continually decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
  2. Cooling moving through the registers isn’t as cold as it should be.
  3. You’re hearing fizzing or gurgling noises when the air conditioning runs.
  4. Your evaporator coil is frosted because it’s having an issue absorbing humidity.

Worried your equipment is leaking refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service professional to take care of the leak and replenish the correct level of refrigerant in your unit. Reach us at 602-789-3315 for help.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it feels like you’re not having adequate amounts of cold air, there’s possibly an obstruction or detachment within your air conditioning equipment.

  • The initial step is looking at your air filter. Get a new one if it’s dirty.
  • Then make sure the ductwork is clear across your house.
  • If you’re still not receiving adequate cold air, you should have your ducts checked by a specialist like Dial One Mears Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. Your duct system could need to be serviced 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 Dial One Mears Air Conditioning & Heating Inc at 602-789-3315. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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