AC Repair in Phoenix, AZ: How to Handle 3 Typical Issues

There can be a few causes why your AC equipment won’t cool: an overloaded circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.

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

To see if one has tripped, locate your home’s main electrical panel. You can find this silver 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.
• Look for the breaker labeled “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s overloaded the switch will be in the in between or “off” position.
• Steadily move the breaker back to the “on” spot. If it immediately triggers again, don’t reset it and reach us at 602-971-0567. A switch that keeps flipping might indicate your house has an electrical issue.

If your thermostat isn’t signaling your air conditioner to run, it won’t switch on.

The most important step is ensuring it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC may not start running. Or you may get. warm air coming from vents because the furnace is going instead.

If you have a traditional thermostat:

• Put in new batteries if the screen is blank. If the readout is showing garbled letters, buy a new thermostat.
• Check the proper program is on the display. If you can’t alter it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if scheduling is not right.
• Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees cooler than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is identical to the room’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is adjusted accurately, you should begin getting cool air promptly.

If you have a smart thermostat, such as one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for help. If you still can’t get it to work, contact us at 602-971-0567 for support.

Your system usually has a power-cutting lever by its outdoor unit. This device is typically in a metal box hung on your house. If your equipment has recently been tuned up, the lever may have unintentionally been left in the “off” location.

Condensate drain pans catch the additional liquid your system removes from the air. This pan can be found either below or inside your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a clog or clogged drain, water can build up and prompt a safety control to turn off your unit.

If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the surplus liquid with a formulated pan-cleaning tablet. You can purchase these tablets at a home improvement or hardware shop.

If your pan involves a pump, locate the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you may need to replace the pump. Contact us at 602-971-0567 for support.

If your system is working but not delivering cold air, its airflow may be clogged. Or it could not have sufficient refrigerant.

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

A filthy filter can lead to a lot of troubles, including:

• Lower cooling
• Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Intermittent cooling
• Bigger utility costs
• Causing your system to break down faster

We suggest changing flat filters once a month, and creased filters every three months.

If you aren’t sure when you last replaced yours, turn off your unit fully and remove the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be found in a connected filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.

Angle the filter up to your light fixture. If you can’t see any light you should buy a new filter.

Brush, vegetation and leaves can get in the way of your condensing unit. This can reduce its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your equipment working properly again.

1. Turn off power completely at the breaker or external switch.
2. Get rid of plant waste around the unit. Once you’ve cleared all the refuse within a two-foot radius, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dust from the condenser fins. Crooked fins can also affect capability, so you can attempt to straighten them with a small knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to slowly remove gunk off the fins from inside the system. Make sure to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
4. Put the top back on and restore the power.

When AC systems don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your residence.

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

1. It takes too long to cool your house and you’re constantly decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
2. Air coming through the registers isn’t as cold as it should be.
3. You’re noticing fizzing or bubbling racket when cooling runs.
4. Your evaporator coil is frosted due to having trouble taking on heat.

Think your system is losing refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service professional to take care of the leak and replenish the proper level of refrigerant in your system. Call us at 602-971-0567 for support.

When it appears like you’re not having adequate amounts of cool air, there’s probably a clog or detachment within your cooling system.

• The initial stage is looking at your air filter. Replace it if it’s dirty.
• Then ensure the vents are free around your rooms.
• If you’re still not getting adequate cold air, you should have your duct system checked by a professional like Integrity AC & Heating LLC. Your ducts might need to be serviced or reconnected in tricky areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.