Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Monroe, Wisconsin, 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 Lanz Furnace and Fireplace.

Our experts are standing by at 608-291-3606 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 air conditioner won’t run: an overloaded circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a turned off switch or a full condensate drain pan.

Blown Circuit Breaker

Your system won’t run when you have a blown breaker.

To determine if one has tripped, locate your residence’s main electrical panel. You can find this gray fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

  • Confirm your hands and feet aren’t wet before you check the panel or breakers.
  • Look for the breaker labeled “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s overloaded the breaker will be in the middle of the panel or “off” location.
  • Steadily transfer the breaker back to the “on” location. If it immediately flips again, don’t reset it and reach us at 608-291-3606. A breaker that keeps turning off could indicate your residence has an electrical problem.

Incorrect Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t telling your equipment to run, it won’t activate.

The key step is checking it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning will probably not switch on. Or you could have. heated air coming from vents being the heat is on instead.

If you rely on a digital thermostat:

  • Replace the batteries if the screen is blank. If the readout is presenting jumbled numbers, get a new thermostat.
  • Make sure the proper setting is showing. If you can’t change it, cancel it by lowering the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if programming is incorrect.
  • Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat matches the house’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is set correctly, you should start getting chilled air promptly.

If you rely on a smart thermostat, like one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for help. If you’re still having problems, call us at 608-291-3606 for support.

Turn-Off Switch

Your AC usually has a power-cutting device around its condenser. This switch is commonly in a metal box hung on your house. If your AC has recently been worked on, the switch may have accidentally been left in the “off” location.

Blocked Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans keep the extra water your system takes out of the air. This pan can be situated either under or within your furnace or air handler.

When there’s an obstruction or blocked drain, water can accumulate and prompt a safety feature to turn off your equipment.

If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the additional condensation with a custom pan-cleaning tablet. You can get these tabs at a home improvement or hardware store.

If your pan includes a pump, look for the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you could need to replace the pump. Contact us at 608-291-3606 for help.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your AC is going but not providing cold air, its airflow might be congested. Or it might not have enough refrigerant.

Clogged Airflow

Your equipment’s airflow can be reduced by a clogged air filter or dusty condenser.

How to Change Your Air Filter

A dirty filter can cause a lot of issues, such as:

  • Reduced comfort
  • Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Uneven cooling
  • Larger utility costs
  • Causing your system to stop working sooner

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

If you can’t recall when you last replaced yours, turn off your AC totally and pull out the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be found in a connected 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 replace it.

4 Steps to Cleaning Your AC Equipment

Brush, grass and bushes can get in the way of your condensing equipment. This may restrict its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your system working well again.

  1. Shut off the electrical current completely at the breaker or external switch.
  2. Get rid of yard waste around the AC. Once you’ve cleared bigger refuse within a two-foot radius, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to slowly remove dust from the unit’s fins. Kinked fins can also hurt effectiveness, so you can attempt to reshape them with a small knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to gingerly remove gunk off the fins from inside the unit. Make sure to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
  4. Put the top back on and turn the power back on.

Insufficient Refrigerant

When air conditioning units don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your space.

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

  1. It takes an extended amount of time to refresh your residence and you’re continually turning down the thermostat.
  2. Air conditioning blowing through the registers isn’t as cold as it should be.
  3. You’re noticing hissing or burbling noises when the AC is on.
  4. Your evaporator coil is iced over on account of having difficulty absorbing heat.

Think your system is seeping refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service expert to repair the leak and replenish the proper amount of refrigerant in your equipment. Call us at 608-291-3606 for support.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it appears like you’re not receiving ample amounts of cold air, there’s probably a blockage or detachment somewhere in your AC unit.

  • The first stage is looking at your air filter. Get a new one if it’s soiled.
  • Then check the registers are open around your rooms.
  • If you’re still not getting adequate chilled air, you should have your duct system examined by a expert like Lanz Furnace and Fireplace. Your ducts might need to be fixed or rejoined in tricky 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 Lanz Furnace and Fireplace at 608-291-3606. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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