Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Heflin, Alabama, 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 Bain Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our experts are standing by at 256-270-1196 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 explanations why your AC equipment won’t work: an overloaded circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.

Blown Circuit Breaker

Your system won’t start when you have a tripped breaker.

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

  • Make sure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you touch the panel or breakers.
  • Look for the breaker marked “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s triggered the lever will be in the middle of the panel or “off” spot.
  • Quickly move the switch back to the “on” location. If it immediately trips again, don’t reset it and call us at 256-270-1196. A breaker that keeps tripping might signal your home has an electrical issue.

Incorrect Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t telling your system to work, it won’t activate.

The key point is making sure it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning will probably not switch on. Or you could receive. heated air blowing from vents since the heater is running instead.

If you rely on a regular thermostat:

  • Put in new batteries if the monitor is clear. If the screen is displaying scrambled numbers, get a new thermostat.
  • Ensure the correct setting is showing. If you can’t alter it, override it by decreasing the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if the configuration is incorrect.
  • Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is identical to the house’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is set properly, you should begin getting chilled air quickly.

If you rely on a smart thermostat, such as one produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you still can’t get it to work, call us at 256-270-1196 for assistance.

Shut-Down Switch

Your system usually has a shut-down switch near its outdoor unit. This switch is typically in a metal box hung on your residence. If your equipment has recently been repaired, the device may have accidentally been placed in the “off” location.

Blocked Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans catch the surplus condensation your system removes from the air. This pan can be found either under or in your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a clog or backed up drain, water can become concentrated and prompt a safety feature to switch off your air conditioner.

If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the surplus condensation with a custom pan-cleaning tablet. You can buy these tablets at a home improvement or hardware store.

If your pan involves a pump, look for the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you could need to replace the pump. Call us at 256-270-1196 for help.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your AC is on but not providing cold air, its airflow may be obstructed. Or it may not have enough refrigerant.

Obstructed Airflow

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

How to Replace Your Air Filter

A filthy filter can create many issues, such as:

  • Reduced cooling
  • Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Uneven cooling
  • Larger cooling costs
  • Causing your system to stop working more quickly

We recommend changing flat filters every four weeks, and pleated filters every three months.

If you can’t recall when you last changed yours, switch off your unit fully and pull out the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be situated in an attached filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.

Hold the filter up to the sunshine. If you see a lot of dust you need to buy a new filter.

4 Steps to Cleaning Your Air Conditioning Equipment

Greenery, grass and leaves can block your condensing system. This can reduce its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s how you can get your unit running properly again.

  1. Switch off power completely at the breaker or outside device.
  2. Clear plant waste around the equipment. Once you’ve gotten rid of all the refuse within a two-foot space, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to carefully remove dirt from the equipment’s fins. Distorted fins can also hurt capability, so you can attempt to adjust them with a small knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to carefully remove gunk off the fins from inside the unit. Don’t get moisture on the fan motor.
  4. Replace the top and turn on the power.

Insufficient Refrigerant

When AC equipment doesn’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your rooms.

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

  1. It takes a long time to refresh your house and you’re continually turning down the thermostat.
  2. Air moving through the ducts isn’t as chilly as it should be.
  3. You’re experiencing whistling or burbling noises when cooling works.
  4. Your evaporator coil is iced over because it’s having trouble taking on humidity.

Suspect your equipment is losing refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service expert to take care of the leak and replenish the correct level of refrigerant in your system. Contact us at 256-270-1196 for support.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it appears like you’re not getting enough chilled air, there’s possibly a blockage or detachment within your cooling system.

  • The initial place is looking at your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s filthy.
  • Then check the vents are open throughout your rooms.
  • If you’re still not experiencing enough chilly air, you should have your duct system inspected by a expert like Bain Heating & Air Conditioning. Your ductwork might need to be fixed or rejoined in limited space 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 Bain Heating & Air Conditioning at 256-270-1196. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

Request Service