Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Pocatello, Idaho, 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 Vogts Heating & Air.

Our experts are standing by at 208-621-0129 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 a few explanations why your AC unit won’t cool: an overloaded circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a turned off switch or a full condensate drain pan.

Tripped Circuit Breaker

Your AC won’t run when you have a tripped breaker.

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

  • Ensure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you check the panel or breakers.
  • Find the breaker marked “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s tripped the breaker will be in the middle of the panel or “off” spot.
  • Firmly move the breaker back to the “on” spot. If it immediately triggers again, don’t reset it and call us at 208-621-0129. A fuse that keeps tripping might indicate your residence has an electrical issue.

Incorrect Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t telling your air conditioner to start, it won’t activate.

The first point is ensuring it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner might not switch on. Or you might have. heated air moving from vents since the heater is on instead.

If you rely on a traditional thermostat:

  • Replace the batteries if the readout is empty. If the screen is presenting jumbled characters, buy a new thermostat.
  • Make sure the correct option is displaying. If you can’t update it, reverse it by dropping the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if programming is wrong.
  • Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is identical to the house’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is calibrated properly, you should begin getting cool air quickly.

If you rely on a smart thermostat, like one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for help. If it still won’t work, reach us at 208-621-0129 for help.

Shut-Off Switch

Your cooling equipment usually has a shut-down device around its condenser. This device is typically in a metal box mounted on your home. If your air conditioner has recently been serviced, the lever may have inadvertently been put in the “off” location.

Blocked Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans keep the extra liquid your AC removes from the air. This pan can be positioned either below or in your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a clog or backed up drain, water can become concentrated and initiate a safety control to switch off your air conditioner.

If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the additional liquid with a formulated pan-cleaning tab. You can get these tablets at a home improvement or hardware retailer.

If your pan has a pump, locate the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you might have to install a new pump. Call us at 208-621-0129 for help.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your system is working but not cooling, its airflow might be obstructed. Or it may not have sufficient refrigerant.

Clogged Airflow

Your unit’s airflow can be reduced by a clogged air filter or dirty condenser.

How to Put in a New Your Air Filter

A dusty filter can create countless troubles, like:

  • Lower comfort
  • Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Intermittent cooling
  • Bigger utility expenses
  • Causing your system to break down sooner

We recommend installing new flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.

If you can’t recall when you last replaced yours, switch off your unit completely and remove the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be found in an adjoining filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.

Hold the filter up to your light fixture. If you can’t see through it you certainly should buy a new filter.

How to Clean Your Air Conditioning Equipment

Brush, plants and shrubbery can block your condensing equipment. This can restrict its airflow, make it less energy efficient and change your comfort. Here’s how you can get your system operating smoothly again.

  1. Shut off power fully at the breaker or external lever.
  2. Clear plant rubbish around the unit. Once you’ve removed all the clutter within a two-foot range, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dirt from the unit’s fins. Distorted fins can also affect capability, so you can attempt to reshape them with a dinner knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to carefully take off dirt on the fins from inside the equipment. Be careful to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
  4. Replace the top and turn on the power.

Leaking Refrigerant

When AC equipment doesn’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your residence.

Here are several indications that your unit is leaking refrigerant:

  1. It takes a long time to cool your rooms and you’re constantly lowering the thermostat.
  2. Air conditioning blowing through the vents isn’t as chilled as it should be.
  3. You’re noticing fizzing or burbling noises when the air conditioning runs.
  4. Your evaporator coil is icy on account of having trouble taking on warmth.

Think your unit is losing refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service professional to repair the leak and restore the correct amount of refrigerant in your equipment. Call us at 208-621-0129 for support.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it feels like you’re not having ample amounts of cool air, there’s potentially a blockage or disconnection within your cooling unit.

  • The first stage is checking your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s filthy.
  • Then make sure the ductwork is open across your residence.
  • If you’re still not experiencing ample chilly air, you should have your ducts checked by a specialist like Vogts Heating & Air. Your ducts might need to be fixed or relinked in difficult 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 Vogts Heating & Air at 208-621-0129. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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