Then, if you have fairly good DIY skills and a digital multimeter, go through the diagnostic steps in this video to determine whether the problem may be a condensate pump switch. If your AC doesn’t go on at all when you set the thermostat for a cooler-than-room temperature, please read Central AC Not Working At All, above. If your room has dramatic swings in temperature before the system kicks on, see Room Temperature Too Hot, Then Too Cold. Call a qualified local AC professional-this is not something you can do yourself. If none of these steps worked , the coolant may need recharging by an air conditioning professional. One should feel warm, the other cool.Ĩ Finally, have the coolant checked. Let it run for a few minutes, and then feel the two pipes that connect the condenser unit to the air handler (slide any insulation back). See How to Test and Replace an AC Run Capacitor, above. If doing this gives the fan enough of a boost to get it going, the unit has a faulty capacitor that must be replaced. If your compressor doesn’t have an overload button and you hear it humming or buzzing, poke a screwdriver or stick down through the top grille and try to spin the fan blades clockwise. If the fan isn’t turning, look for an overload button or switch to reset (not all types have this). You should hear the outdoor compressor run and see the fan turning inside the top. To avoid straining an air conditioner’s compressor, wait at least five minutes between turning it off at the thermostat and turning it back on. Set the thermostat to a temperature below the room temperature, and then switch it ON. To deal with condensate problems, please see Air Conditioner Leaks Water, below.Ħ Reassemble the unit. Just reverse the disassembly steps given above.ħ To test it, turn the thermostat to OFF, reset the power at the disconnect next to the compressor and the main panel. Water can also puddle around the air conditioning unit or flood the area. In fact, some condensate drains have a float switch that won’t let the AC run if water backs-up. Over time, algae can block this pipe and, when it does, the AC won’t work. To get rid of this, they have a drain pipe that comes out of the side of the air handler. For more about changing filters, see How to Replace Furnace & AC Filters.Īir conditioners can create a lot of water because they remove moisture from the air. More often than not, the problem comes from reduced air flow.Īgain, be sure nothing is limiting air flow to the HVAC system-the air filters, registers, and the outdoor unit. Only two things cause an AC air handler to freeze up: 1) reduced air flow because of dirty filters, coils, or poorly working fans, and 2) low refrigerant level, which a pro must check and, if necessary, recharge. For information on furnace problems, please see Furnace Not Working. Most noteworthy, you should replace the filters at least twice a year, before the heating and cooling seasons. In addition to the information below, see these two articles for the general care and maintenance of your air conditioner: Preparing Your Air Conditioner for Summer and How to Replace Furnace & AC Filters. You’ll find methods for handling simple repairs and maintenance yourself in this article.ĪC problems usually happen in a heat wave, when you need your AC the most and when HVAC repair people are very busy. It really pays to do your own repairs, both in cost savings and in getting your AC system back in working order as quickly as possible. ©Don Vandervort, HomeTipsĪlthough a qualified air-conditioning repair person (HVAC technician) should handle certain types of central air conditioner repairs, homeowners can handle a number of problems. Clean the central air conditioning compressor, located outdoors, before every cooling season.
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