When a homeowners air conditioner starts making strange noises or refuses to turn on, it’s easy for them to panic. Unfortunately, most homeowners don’t possess a detailed knowledge of cooling systems to correct what’s going wrong. This is where your local technician steps in but here are a few system checks you can do as a homeowner before doing so.

#1 Air Conditioner Will Not Turn On

Having your air conditioner not start up on a hot day can be very discouraging, here is some troubleshooting you can try before contacting your technician.

• Check Your Thermostat Settings: If your thermostat was adjusted without your knowledge, this could be hindering your system from cooling.  Make sure your settings are correct before you call.
• Check Your Unit Has Power: Start by replacing your batteries with fresh ones. If your system is hardwired make sure all wires are not tampered with and the breaker isn’t tripped. Either one of those issues could cut off power to your system or your thermostat causing your system to not be able to turn on. With exterior units, you should make sure it is plugged in and the exterior switch near the condenser is set to on.
• Check Your Air Conditioners Air Filter: A full air filter could prevent your cooling system from firing up because of the lack of air flow. This can cause your unit to overheat which will set the system to go into safety shutdown mode. Replacing your dirty air filter or just giving your reusable filter a good clean could be the simple solution to your issue.

#2 No Cool Air

Your air conditioner is on but it’s not outputting cool air which is wasting your money and leaving you uncomfortable. Here are some simple checks you can do to solve your lack of cool air.

• Check Your Air Filter: Once again your air filter could be the source of your issue. Like stated above dirty air filters clog airflow in your home, making it so the cool air can not be dispersed. If you haven’t changed the air filter in your home this could be the simple fix you are looking for.
• Check Your Air Ducts: Leaks in your ducts allow cool air to exit the duct system. In fact, about 30 percent of energy can be lost through duct leaks, this is why it is important to check over your system. Disconnected sections, holes, and gaps are what you should be looking for. In this case, it is best to contact your technician right away for help.

If none of these system checks work, make sure to call your technician to get your air conditioner looked at.

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