Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Payson, Arizona, 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 North Mechanical Heating and Cooling.

Our experts are standing by at 928-263-8570 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 central AC system won’t cool: an overloaded circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.

Blown Circuit Breaker

Your air conditioning won’t work when you have an overloaded breaker.

To find out if one has tripped, locate your home’s main electrical panel. You can spot this gray device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

  • Ensure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you work on the panel or breakers.
  • Locate the breaker identified “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s overloaded the switch will be in the middle of the panel or “off” position.
  • Steadily move the switch back to the “on” location. If it instantaneously flips again, don’t touch it and call us at 928-263-8570. A switch that keeps tripping might mean your house has an electrical problem.

Inaccurate Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your equipment to work, it won’t turn on.

The main part is ensuring it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC will probably not switch on. Or you might receive. heated air moving from vents since the heater is going instead.

If you have a traditional thermostat:

  • Swap out the batteries if the readout is blank. If the screen is displaying scrambled numbers, buy a new thermostat.
  • Make sure the right program is displaying. If you can’t update it, override it by lowering the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if programming is not right.
  • Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees cooler than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat is identical to the house’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is set correctly, you should start getting cool air quickly.

If you rely on a smart thermostat, like one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you’re still having problems, contact us at 928-263-8570 for assistance.

Shut-Down Switch

Your AC typically has a shut-down lever near its condenser. This lever is typically in a metal box hung on your residence. If your equipment has recently been maintained, the lever may have unintentionally been placed in the “off” location.

Blocked Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans hold the extra condensation your AC pulls from the air. This pan can be positioned either beneath or within your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a clog or blocked drain, water can build up and initiate a safety setting to turn off your air conditioner.

If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the extra liquid with a special pan-cleaning tab. You can get these tabs at a home improvement or hardware retailer.

If your pan has a pump, look for the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you may need to get a new pump. Contact us at 928-263-8570 for assistance.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your equipment is working but not cooling, its airflow may be obstructed. Or it may not have adequate refrigerant.

Blocked Airflow

Your equipment’s airflow can be reduced by a blocked air filter or dirty condenser.

How to Change Your Air Filter

A filthy filter can create countless problems, like:

  • Reduced airflow
  • Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Uneven cooling
  • Increased energy costs
  • Leading your system to break down faster

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

If you can’t remember when you last replaced yours, turn off your system fully and pull out the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be situated in a connected filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.

Tilt the filter up to your light fixture. If you see a lot of dust you should buy a new filter.

4 Steps to Cleaning Your AC Equipment

Weeds, vegetation and shrubbery can block your condensing system. This may limit its airflow, make it less energy efficient and change your comfort. Here’s how you can get your unit running well again.

  1. Switch off power fully at the breaker or external switch.
  2. Get rid of yard waste around the AC. Once you’ve cleared larger refuse within a two-foot radius, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to carefully remove dirt from the unit’s fins. Distorted fins can also impact effectiveness, so you can attempt to straighten them with a dinner knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to slowly remove gunk off the fins from inside the system. Be careful to avoid getting liquid on the fan motor.
  4. Put the top back on and restore the power.

Insufficient Refrigerant

When air conditioning equipment doesn’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from the air.

Here are several symptoms that your unit is seeping refrigerant:

  1. It takes too long to cool your rooms and you’re constantly decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
  2. Air moving through the vents isn’t as chilly as it should be.
  3. You’re noticing hissing or burbling noises when the AC runs.
  4. Your evaporator coil is frozen on account of having trouble handling warmth.

Worried your system is seeping refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service professional to repair the leak and refill the right amount of refrigerant in your unit. Reach us at 928-263-8570 for help.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it seems like you’re not receiving enough chilled air, there’s possibly a blockage or detachment within your AC system.

  • The initial step is checking your air filter. Get a new one if it’s soiled.
  • Then make sure the ductwork is free around your residence.
  • If you’re still not experiencing ample chilled air, you should have your ducts examined by a specialist like North Mechanical Heating and Cooling. Your ducts could need to be fixed or reconnected in hard-to-reach 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 North Mechanical Heating and Cooling at 928-263-8570. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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