When temperatures climb inside almost as fast as they do out, the first thing to check is your air conditioner. It may not be running, and the faster you discover it, the sooner you can get this mandatory appliance working again.
- Find the thermostat. Make sure it’s set to cooling and the fan is set to “auto” or “on.” Batteries sometimes need replacing for a thermostat that isn’t hard-wired to the air handler. Thermostats sometimes do go bad and it may need replacing.
- Check the power. Locate the circuit breakers for the A/C to see if they’ve tripped. If so, turn them back on. If the system starts, monitor it for a few hours. If the breakers turn off again, it’s time to call your HVAC contractor for a check up.
An air conditioner uses a lot of electricity and if something’s going wrong, the breakers will trip to prevent fires or damage to the equipment.
- Locate the fuse. The outdoor condenser might have a fuse inside a box close to the unit. Like the breaker, it’s there to protect you and the equipment from electrical malfunctions.
If it has any kind of damage, it may need replacing. Take it to a home center or hardware store and replace it with the exact size and type of the existing fuse.
- Look over the air filter. A clogged filter can disable your cooling system. When too little air can get into the air handler, the system might shut off to avoid serious mechanical problems.
The evaporator coil inside the air handler may freeze over because of a dirty filter to avoid compressor damage. If you see water leaking from the unit or frost on the coil, it will need to thaw.
- The refrigerant level may be low. If the A/C shuts off frequently, it probably needs more refrigerant — something only an HVAC technician can measure and replace.
Taking care of your air conditioner through professional and do-it-yourself maintenance reduces the chances that it won’t start. To learn more, contact Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company, providing HVAC services for Yuma-area homeowners.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air conditioner problems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 928-723-3183.
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