When A/C problems hit, you need to know effective air conditioner troubleshooting steps to take. By spending time to determine the root of the problem, you can avoid calling a service technician, particularly if the problem is as simple as restoring power to the unit.
However, because air conditioners are complicated, sensitive units, don’t attempt to fix the problem yourself. You’ll want an expert to handle the situation. Here are three air conditioner troubleshooting steps that homeowners should be able to safely perform:
When not enough cool air comes out of the ducts, try these steps:
- Examine the ductwork, checking for blockages, looking for connections that are loose or leaking, and keeping an eye out for dampers that are closed but should be open.
- Visually inspect the furnace blower and filter, looking for evidence of dirt buildup or debris.
- Determine if ice buildup on the coils is a problem. Simply open up the air handler’s cover and locate the evaporator coils. If you see ice, you’ve got a problem that requires expert help.
If the unit won’t start at all, try these air conditioner troubleshooting steps, checking for electrical problems:
- Make sure that power is going to the system. The unit will only cycle on if the thermostat’s mode is set to “cooling.” The home’s temperature should be higher than the thermostat’s temperature setting as well, or else the A/C won’t cycle on.
- Check that the power supply switches are “on” for the outdoor condenser and the indoor furnace blower.
- Make sure the unit’s circuit breakers have not been tripped.
Even though Calgary’s climate is dry, if your air conditioner can’t handle removing excess condensation that the unit produces, you may find that your home is overly humid. Check that the indoor temperature is continuing to lower, which means the A/C is working. However, this problem should generally be resolved with a consultation with your HVAC expert.
If these air conditioner troubleshooting steps don’t get your A/C back up and running, contact the experts at Arpi’s Industries today. We’re happy to help diagnose, repair and restore your system. We’ve been serving greater Calgary-area homeowners for almost 50 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Calgary, Alberta about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about troubleshooting tips and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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