How to Fix an Air Conditioner That’s Not Working

A broken central air conditioning system may soon make your house uneasy and uncomfortable as the temperature rises. During summer repair visits, Appliance Medic Repair Services specialists deal with frequent AC problems including leaks or insufficient cooling. Learn about these typical issues and find professional solutions in this guide to ensure your air conditioner is in good working order all season long.

Our specialists in HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) can diagnose your air conditioner and get it back up and running. You need your central air conditioning system to function flawlessly come summertime, yet even the greatest air conditioners eventually experience problems.

Is there a problem with your AC? Do not worry! Try this list of troubleshooting tips for air conditioning to find solutions for common issues like AC not cooling.

1. Common Reasons Why Your AC Is not Working?

Why Is My Air Conditioner Not Turning On?

Regardless of the kind of system you own—central, mini-split, ductless, or heat pump—our troubleshooting guide covers commonalities among the many AC system types..

How to Fix It?

Before contacting an HVAC professional, try these troubleshooting steps if your air conditioner isn’t turning on at all:

• Ensure that the outside breaker fuse is in the proper location.
• Ensure for a tripped breaker on your electrical panel.
• Ensure sure that the thermostat is turned on. Look for an obstructed air filter.
• Ensure that your condensate pump is operating properly.

2. Why is My Air Conditioner Not Cooling

If your AC isn’t releasing cool air

Make sure all of the vents are open and the thermostat is adjusted correctly if your air conditioning system turns on but doesn’t release chilly air. Check the air filter if they aren’t the issue. You won’t receive any air flow if it’s blocked by dirt or other debris. The ice and frost will choke the air flow even more since the obstruction may cause the evaporator coils to freeze.

How to Fix it?

• Use water, mild soap, and a gentle brush to clean the filter
• To prevent that issue from happening again
• Clean and replace your filter frequently

Another issue might be with the fan or fan motor. If the fan spins smoothly, there might be a refrigerant line leak or an issue with the motor receiving electricity. In these situations, you’ll most likely need to have the unit inspected by a licensed HVAC professional.

If your AC is not Cooling properly

Your system could not be the right size for your house or be worn out if it was built incorrectly or is outdated. Systems that are too big for your house will become less efficient since they will turn on and off too rapidly. A system that is too tiny for your house will have to work more to cool it, which might cause it to break down sooner.

How to Fix it?

Ensure that all of your vents are open by checking them. The heated air from the room with the closed vent will mix with the chilled air from the other rooms, making it harder to cool the entire house if even one of them is closed. If not, there can be another issue with you, like a refrigerant line leak.

3. Water Leaking from the AC

Water Leaking Inside

If your air conditioner leaks water inside your home, switch it off to prevent expensive water damage. Water may back up into your house from a blocked condensate drain pipe. When water re-enters the drain pipe, a float switch on many air conditioners trips and turns the unit off.

How to Fix it?

• Check and clear the condensate drain line.
• Check and clean the condensate pan.
• Check or replace the air filter regularly.
• Check any ice buildup on the evaporator coil or refrigerant lines.
• Check and repair damaged insulation around the unit.
• Check proper installation and level of the AC unit.
• Check any gaps or cracks around the unit.
• Check and ensure the condensate pump is working correctly.

It’s likely that the condensate pump failed or that the drain pan is rusty if the drain line isn’t blocked. The damaged parts can be replaced or repaired by a service professional.

Water Leaking Outside

You may see a little pool of water beneath your condenser unit on hot or muggy days. That’s typical in hot, muggy weather—as long as it appears just when the machine is operating. An air conditioner may freeze in cold temperatures, often 60 degrees or below. This is natural and might lead to the unit leaking water when the ice melts.

How to Fix it?

Try cleaning or changing your air filters if it leaks in other situations. If that resolves the issue, make an appointment for a service call. It’s possible that your condensate pan is damaged, that your drain line is clogged, or that you need extra refrigerant.

Water Leaking with AC Turned Off

Your system may freeze while operating if the refrigerant level is low or if the filter is unclean. It leaks water because the ice melts when you turn it off. Avoid taking a chance on your air conditioner spilling water over the ceiling or floor.

How to Fix it?

Don’t switch on your air conditioning system again until you have located and resolved the issue if cleaning your filter doesn’t help. You could have a clog or a damaged condensate pan, just like with outside leaks.

4. AC Not Functioning Properly

AC Not Turning Off

Your AC filter can be unclean if it runs longer than it should. Check to see if the problem is resolved by cleaning or replacing your filter. An outdated or missized system can also make it operate too hard, cycle too frequently, and be difficult to turn off. The following issues might also be the source of your AC’s continuous running:

• An unresponsive fan relay
• The thermostat cable is short.
• A malfunctioning thermostat

How to fix it?

• Check thermostat settings.
• Inspect and replace dirty air filters.
• Ensure vents are unobstructed.
• Clean evaporator and condenser coils.
• Clear condensate drain line.
• Check for refrigerant leaks.
• Inspect thermostat functionality.
• Consider outdoor temperature factors.

Central AC is not Working

In certain cases, figuring out why your air conditioner isn’t working might be easy.

How to fIx it?

• If the thermostat isn’t set to Cool or another suitable temperature that needs cooling, check it and make the necessary adjustments.
• Check the AC unit’s home circuit breakers and reset any that have tripped.
• If the air filter is dusty, check it and replace it.
• If there is any debris obstructing the outside unit’s condenser fins, look for it and clean the fins.
• If condensate water isn’t draining from the unit, look for a clogged condensate drain pipe and clean the obstruction.

Call a specialist if these solutions don’t work; your HVAC system might need to be fixed or replaced.

AC Window Unit not Turning On

Similar to this, make sure that electrical current is entering the system and verify the unit’s temperature setting first when using a window unit. Again, seek expert assistance for AC window unit repair if neither of those troubleshooting techniques is able to identify the issue.

5. AC Fan Problems

Inside AC fan not working

Prior to getting into your air conditioner repair, ensure a breaker hasn’t been tripped by inspecting your AC indoor fan. Check your air filter whether everything is in order. You might be able to resolve the issue on your own if it’s blocked. If ice is present on the refrigerant lines and evaporator coil, let it thaw before rechecking to make sure the fan is operating.

If it’s not functioning, your coil may have frozen as a result. A repair visit is necessary for a frozen coil since your technician could have to replace the fan belt, the contacts within the fan relay, or even the motor.

Outside AC fan not working

You might want to inspect your exterior unit if your air conditioner isn’t cooling down adequately. The breaker or fuse box should be checked first if the outside fan isn’t whirling.

How to fix it?

Start capacitor not working
The motor of your fan or the start capacitor could not be functioning if your compressor is still operating. Using a wooden stick to push the fan could help you troubleshoot it. Avoid doing it by hand as you run the risk of cutting your fingers if the fan does start. You should contact the experts if it still won’t spin. Switch off your device till she or he arrives. Avoiding burning out your compressor might require a significant repair.

The motor of an outdoor fan is jammed
The fan can have been stuck due to corrosion or dirt. The outdoor fan motor may need to be fixed or replaced if the equipment needs more involved maintenance.

Air Conditioner Repair Service Near Me

We at Appliance Medic provide same-day or next-day service, and you may phone day or night to book an appointment since living without heat or air conditioning is miserable and often hazardous. What distinguishes Appliance Medic’s HVAC repair services is as follows:

• In-store and on-site HVAC repair services are provided by us.
• To schedule an appointment, you can phone any time of day.
• If feasible, we offer free technical assistance to help diagnose and resolve any HVAC issue over the phone, sparing you the expense and time of a service call.
• We promise to make you happy. View details.
• We provide financing choices for repairs to HVAC systems.
• Before we start any work, we provide you with a comprehensive written estimate.

Experts at Appliance Medic can service any brand of whole-house heater or air conditioning system, regardless of where it was purchased. Appliance Medic has you covered whether your system is a Kenmore, Carrier, or another brand.

By having your AC system properly maintained, you can continue to keep your house at its ideal temperature. Have an annual maintenance check-up performed by your neighborhood Appliance Medic air conditioning specialist. Regular maintenance will extend the lifespan of your system, improve its efficiency, and ultimately lower your energy costs.

Are you unsure if it’s time to buy a new air conditioner? With the air conditioning specialists at Appliance Medic Repair Services, you can’t go wrong. For your house, we are here.