Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Justin, Texas, 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 Pepper AC & Heat.

Our experts are standing by at 940-202-1184 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 reasons why your air conditioner won’t start: a triggered circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a shut off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.

Blown Circuit Breaker

Your air conditioning won’t run when you have a tripped breaker.

To see if one has gotten overloaded, find your house’s main electrical panel. You can find this gray fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

  • Confirm your hands and feet are free of moisture before you work on the panel or breakers.
  • Locate the breaker labeled “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s overloaded the switch will be in the middle or “off” spot.
  • Quickly move the breaker back to the “on” spot. If it instantly trips again, leave it alone and reach us at 940-202-1184. A fuse that keeps tripping may indicate your home has electrical trouble.

Inaccurate Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t telling your equipment to run, it won’t switch on.

The key part is checking it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner will probably not switch on. Or you might have. warm air blowing from vents because the heater is on instead.

If you rely on a traditional thermostat:

  • Put in new batteries if the readout is empty. If the monitor is showing jumbled numbers, buy a new thermostat.
  • Ensure the correct option is displaying. If you can’t alter it, override it by lowering the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if programming is not right.
  • Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is set the same as the room’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is calibrated accurately, you should begin getting chilled air fast.

If you’re using a smart thermostat, like one produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for help. If it still won’t work, reach us at 940-202-1184 for assistance.

Turn-Off Switch

Your AC typically has a shut-down device around its outside unit. This lever is commonly in a metal box mounted on your home. If your unit has recently been fixed, the lever may have accidentally been left in the “off” position.

Blocked Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans keep the additional condensation your air conditioner removes from the air. This pan is located either below or within your furnace or air handler.

When there’s an obstruction or backed up drain, water can accumulate and initiate a safety setting to switch off your unit.

If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the extra water with a formulated pan-cleaning capsule. You can purchase these tabs at a home improvement or hardware store.

If your pan involves a pump, look for the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you might have to install a new pump. Reach us at 940-202-1184 for help.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

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

Obstructed Airflow

Your system’s airflow can be restricted by a blocked air filter or filthy condenser.

How to Replace Your Air Filter

A dirty filter can cause numerous troubles, including:

  • Lower cooling
  • Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Uneven cooling
  • Higher cooling bills
  • Making your system wear out more quickly

We recommend installing new flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.

If you aren’t sure when you last replaced yours, shut off your AC fully and take out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be situated in an adjoining filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.

Angle the filter up to the sunshine. If you see a lot of dust you should get a new one.

How to Clean Your Cooling Equipment

Brush, grass and sticks can block your condensing equipment. This may limit its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your equipment running well again.

  1. Turn off electricity fully at the breaker or outdoor device.
  2. Get rid of yard waste around the air conditioner. Once you’ve removed bigger debris within a two-foot space, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to slowly remove dust from the equipment’s fins. Warped fins can also impact performance, so you can attempt to straighten them with a small knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to carefully remove gunk off the fins from inside the system. Be careful to avoid getting liquid on the fan motor.
  4. Install the top again and restore the power.

Insufficient Refrigerant

When cooling systems don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your residence.

Here are several flags that your unit is seeping refrigerant:

  1. It takes a long time to refresh your rooms and you’re continually lowering the thermostat.
  2. Air blowing through the vents isn’t as chilly as it should be.
  3. You’re noticing hissing or gurgling sounds when the air conditioning is on.
  4. Your evaporator coil is frosty because it’s having an issue taking on humidity.

Worried your equipment is losing refrigerant? You need a qualified heating and cooling service professional to repair the leak and restore the correct level of refrigerant in your equipment. Get in touch with us at 940-202-1184 for assistance.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it appears like you’re not getting adequate amounts of chilled air, there’s probably an obstruction or separation within your cooling unit.

  • The first step is examining your air filter. Get a new one if it’s dirty.
  • Then check the registers are open around your house.
  • If you’re still not getting enough chilled air, you should have your ductwork inspected by a professional like Pepper AC & Heat. Your ductwork might need to be repaired or relinked in limited space locations 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 Pepper AC & Heat at 940-202-1184. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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