Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Marshalltown, Iowa, 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 Kapaun & Brown.

Our experts are standing by at 641-812-2028 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 several causes why your air conditioning system won’t run: a blown circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a shut off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.

Tripped Circuit Breaker

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

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

  • Ensure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you work on the panel or breakers.
  • Locate the breaker labeled “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” position. If it’s tripped the breaker will be in the middle or “off” location.
  • Quickly shift the breaker back to the “on” position. If it instantly flips again, leave it alone and reach us at 641-812-2028. A switch that keeps tripping might indicate your home has an electrical issue.

Wrong Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your equipment to start, it won’t activate.

The first point is making sure it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner may not switch on. Or you may receive. heated air coming from vents being the heater is on instead.

If you’re using a digital thermostat:

  • Swap out the batteries if the screen is blank. If the monitor is presenting scrambled letters, get a new thermostat.
  • Check the right setting is showing. If you can’t change it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if scheduling is incorrect.
  • Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees cooler than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is set the same as the room’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is adjusted correctly, you should receive cold air quickly.

If you rely on a smart thermostat, including ones made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for help. If you still can’t get it to work, reach us at 641-812-2028 for assistance.

Shut-Off Switch

Your air conditioner typically has a power-cutting switch around its outdoor unit. This device is generally in a metal box mounted on your home. If your unit has recently been worked on, the lever may have unintentionally been positioned in the “off” position.

Overflowing Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans hold the surplus water your equipment pulls from the air. This pan can be positioned either below or inside your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a clog or clogged drain, water can accumulate and prompt a safety feature to turn off your air conditioner.

If your pan has 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 shop.

If your pan has a pump, find the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you may need to install a new pump. Call us at 641-812-2028 for assistance.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

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

Blocked Airflow

Your unit’s airflow can be limited by a plugged air filter or dirty condenser.

How to Change Your Air Filter

A dusty filter can create many issues, like:

  • Limited comfort
  • Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Uneven cooling
  • Larger electricity bills
  • Making your system wear out more quickly

We recommend replacing flat filters every four weeks, and accordion filters every three months.

If you aren’t sure when you last changed yours, shut off your unit totally and pull out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be found in a connected filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.

Angle the filter up to the light. If you see a lot of dust you certainly should buy a new filter.

How to Clean Your Cooling Equipment

Weeds, plants and sticks can block your condensing unit. This can restrict its airflow, make it less energy efficient and impact your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your unit operating well again.

  1. Switch off electricity completely at the breaker or outside device.
  2. Clear plant waste around the equipment. Once you’ve cleared bigger refuse within a two-foot space, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to carefully remove dirt from the unit’s fins. Crooked fins can also hurt performance, so you can attempt to adjust them with a blunt knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to carefully clean the fins from inside the equipment. Make sure to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
  4. Install the top again and restore the power.

Not Enough Refrigerant

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

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

  1. It takes a long time to lower the temperature in your rooms and you’re regularly decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
  2. Cooling moving through the registers isn’t as chilly as it should be.
  3. You’re hearing fizzing or gurgling noises when cooling runs.
  4. Your evaporator coil is icy due to having difficulty taking on warmth.

Suspect your equipment is leaking refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service specialist to fix the leak and refill the correct level of refrigerant in your system. Contact us at 641-812-2028 for support.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it appears like you’re not having adequate amounts of chilled air, there’s likely an obstruction or detachment somewhere in your cooling unit.

  • The beginning place is looking at your air filter. Get a new one if it’s filthy.
  • Then make sure the ductwork is free around your residence.
  • If you’re still not experiencing enough chilly air, you should have your duct system checked by a expert like Kapaun & Brown. Your ductwork might need to be fixed or reconnected in hard-to-reach 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 Kapaun & Brown at 641-812-2028. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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