AC Not Working? 4 Things to Try to Get Your AC Working

Summer is starting to heat up, and the temperatures a rising. Everybody wants to be comfortable in their own home, and the worst thing that can happen is firing up your air conditioning unit for the first time in a while, and it doesn’t work. Whether it’s not blowing cold air, or it flat out isn’t working, here are a few tricks to try to see if you can get it up and running on your own.

Blower Won’t Turn On

If your air conditioner won’t run on, there are a number of things that could be causing the issue. The first thing to check is your circuit breaker. This may sound simple, but a tripped breaker can often be overlooked, and can certainly be the root of this problem. If the breaker continues to trip when you try to run the AC unit, the breaker might need replacing.

However, there are other things that could be behind this. Make sure the drain line to the unit isn’t clogged, because many units will switch off when this occurs. Also, check that same shut-off switch to ensure that it is turned on. Beyond that, the switch may have gone bad, and/or the wiring in the unit may have gone bad. If that’s the case, it’s likely time to call a technician.

Frozen Unit

If there are icicles hanging off of the outside of your air conditioning unit, it likely means that there is a frozen coil inside the unit. The good news is that it is definitely capable of blowing cold air. The bad news is that it’s likely not blowing into your home. There are a number of things that can cause your AC coil to freeze. From low refrigerant, to faulty parts, to restricted air flow.

However, this commonly is an easy fix. Turn off the air conditioning unit and turn the fan onto “auto.” This will allow that ice to melt. After that, check the air filter and make sure it is clear of any debris. Make sure nothing is disconnected and that none of the registers are blocked. If the unit is still freezing up, you may have a refrigerant leak or a damaged refrigerant line.

AC Not Turning On

If you have your thermostat set, and the air conditioner still won’t turn on, there are a couple things you can check that might be an easy fix. The first option is to check the batteries inside your thermostat. Sometimes this can be as simple as a pair of dead batteries. Then make sure that the correct mode is set on the thermostat at your desired temperature.

If the unit still isn’t turning on, check the pesky circuit breaker again. The circuit breaker may be tripped, and can be reset by moving it to the off position, before switching it back on. These simple fixes are usually at the root of this problem, but if the issue continues to persist, it might be time to give a professional a call to check it out. If there’s an issue with wiring, don’t attempt to fix any wiring issues yourself.

Air Conditioner Keeps Running

While some AC units won’t turn on, others won’t stop running. If you have an AC unit running constantly, that’s an issue. Even in hot temperatures, it should still be turning off periodically, depending on where you have the thermostat set. If it runs continuously, it can cause your energy bill to blast off and become very expensive, and it needs that down time to protect important parts from breaking down.

The thermostat is usually the culprit when this is occurring. Make sure the thermostat is set at a reasonable level, and then turn it off to see if the AC unit complies and shuts down. Another thing to check is the air filter. If it hasn’t been changed in a while, the dirty filter is restricting air flow. That means the amount of cool air your AC can produce is restricted, causing it to work harder.

Of course, not all problems are going to be a quick fix. Trying these solutions may solve your problem, but if they don’t, you might have something more serious on your hands. If you have questions about working on your air conditioning unit, contact the expert.