You rely on your AC system to keep you cool and comfortable. Especially in the Tampa Bay area, where temperatures can get quite high during the summer months.
Don’t get caught in the middle of a heatwave with an AC that won’t turn on. Here are some simple air conditioner troubleshooting tips to help keep you cool when trouble strikes.
*Disclaimer: At Easy AC, we recommend consulting with a professional and licensed AC repair company if your AC unit is not working. We take no responsibility for the information provided in this article.
6 Things to Check If Your Air Conditioner Won’t Turn On
1. Check the Basics
Again, when warm weather strikes and your air conditioner’s not turning on, you may understandably be very worried about your comfort. This can make you overlook certain basic factors that might be causing the problem.
Specifically, you should check the circuit breaker to see if an electrical problem is causing the issue. Make sure everything is plugged in properly as well. Sometimes an AC won’t turn on simply because a plug came loose.
You should also check your thermostat. There are instances when people think their air conditioner is not working, only to discover a problem with the thermostat is actually the culprit. Make sure your thermostat is fully connected to a power source and is in cool mode. Once more, while these may sound like fairly basic tips, these can be easy factors to overlook when your AC isn’t turning on, and you don’t know why.
2. Know Your AC Unit
Being familiar with all the features of your HVAC system is important for certain essential reasons. The more familiar you are with your AC system, the more you’ll understand how to practice effective AC maintenance. This is key to ensuring your HVAC system stays in good working order for as long as possible. Additionally, practicing effective maintenance will help your system stay efficient, guarding against high utility bills.
It’s also worth noting that familiarizing yourself with the key features of your system can potentially be helpful when your air conditioner’s not working properly. For instance, some homeowners don’t realize that their AC systems have basic on/off switches. They might think their ACs aren’t working, when in reality, the switch may have somehow been set to the off position.
Find out if your AC system has such a switch. If it does, this should be one of the first things you check when the AC won’t turn on.
3. Check Your Filter
Replacing your AC filters on a regular basis is a simple but very important maintenance task. Your filters play a crucial role in your overall HVAC system, preventing dust and debris from getting inside the various components and causing problems. However, if you don’t replace them consistently, they can and will get clogged.
Doing so forces your AC to use more energy to keep your home cool, which can result in higher-than-normal utility bills. If you don’t address the issue, it can also cause your AC to stop working entirely.
After checking the basics described in the above two points, if none of those issues seem to be causing the problem, check your filter to see if it needs to be replaced. Keep in mind that replacing your filters before they get clogged will also extend the lifespan of your AC system. Forcing your AC to use excessive energy to cool your home puts the system through substantial wear and tear. Over time, this can cause it to break down permanently at an earlier date than it would have if you’d stayed on top of replacing the filters. That’s fortunately not something you need to worry about if you do change the filters often.
4. Check Your Evaporator Coils
Keeping your evaporator coils clean is another important maintenance task. However, you may want to consult with an AC repair company to learn the proper method. They’ll help you better understand how to keep them as thoroughly clean as possible.
Like changing your filters regularly, cleaning your evaporator coils will reduce the odds of your air conditioner not working. Check them if the AC isn’t turning on. If they’re dirty, there’s a good chance that’s the reason you have a problem.
5. Check the Drain Pan
When consulting with AC repair experts, ask them to demonstrate how to check your AC’s drain pan. This pan is usually located below the indoor section of your AC unit.
Sometimes it becomes full. When this happens, it might trigger a float switch, which will keep your AC from turning on. Your trusted air conditioner maintenance and repair experts will help you understand what steps you can take to reduce the chances of this happening.
6. Learn to do a Capacitor Test
Add “learning how to conduct a capacitor test” to your list of topics to ask AC repair pros about the next time you schedule an inspection or AC repairs in the Tampa area.
This is particularly important if you noticed your AC making strange or new noises before it stopped working. This may be a sign that the motor has failed. A capacitor test will let you know whether this is the case. That said, if you do notice your air conditioner making strange sounds, it’s best to schedule an AC repair service sooner rather than later. Unexplained or unexpected noises are almost always linked to some sort of AC problem.
Fortunately, if your AC won’t turn on, you can always contact Easy AC. We offer quick and affordable 24-hr emergency AC repairs in the Tampa Bay area. Give us a call at 813-COLDAIR to learn more!