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My Air Conditioner is Not Working

Help! My Air Conditioner is Not Cooling

As summer days continue to heat up, or when Northeast Ohio is in the thick of a brutal, humid heat wave, your comfort – and sometimes health – relies on the cool atmosphere your air conditioner produces.

But, of course, you didn’t land here today because your AC unit is working.

While dealing with an air conditioner that is not cooling your home may be very frustrating (and miserable), it may not be a worst-case scenario.

Because AC units are complex systems that require the right amount of airflow, temperature, and pressure to work correctly, there are several reasons why your air conditioning unit can fail – and some don’t require an expensive AC repair.

Discover the six most common reasons why your air conditioner is not working and find helpful troubleshooting tips.

But first, did you recently get a new AC unit installed?

If your air conditioning system is new, most signs point to an improper installation. The issue may also be that your new AC unit is too small or too big for the size of your house.

With new air conditioning units that are not cooling, it’s best to consult the experts right away. Often times, it’s most advantageous to contact a different HVAC team to get unbiased, professional help and a second opinion.

 

The Top 6 Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner Is Not Cooling

If your air conditioning system is not new, here are other factors that can cause your AC unit to stop working:

1. Insufficient Airflow

Do you feel some air coming through your vents? Is the air flow extremely weak?

If this is what you’re experiencing, you may have quickly realized that the small amount of air blowing through the vents is insignificant and not doing anything but wasting your money.

Troubleshooting tip: Start by checking the air filter in your AC unit.

  • If it’s dirty, replace it and start your unit again.
  • Check your vents and assess the strength of the airflow.
  • If you feel like your AC unit is still not producing sufficient airflow to cool your home properly and efficiently, you may need your AC fan examined and/or your airducts cleaned. Contact a trusted HVAC team to assess your situation and provide the proper maintenance and repairs.

 

2. Electrical Issues

A potentially easy fix, your AC unit may have just experienced a tripped breaker. Sometimes when this happens, the unit doesn’t transition into the ‘off’ position.

Troubleshooting tip: Head to the breaker box in your home and look for the breaker switches that connect to your AC.

  • There are usually more than one, sometimes there can be as many as three switches you’ll need to flip.
  • Look for breakers that have the labels of: AC or air conditioner or HVAC or condenser or compressor.
  • When you find the correct ones, flip them off and then back on again.
  • Check to see if your AC has switched back on.
  • If it doesn’t, keep reading to see if any of the following reasons are the issue:

 

3. Low Refrigerant

If the culprit is not a tripped breaker, another common reason your air conditioner may not be working is because of a low refrigerant level. Just like your car needs gas, your AC unit needs refrigerant in order to function properly and generate cold air.

Troubleshooting tip: Contact a licensed HVAC professional to measure the refrigerant levels in your unit and discard of any unused refrigerant. AC technicians will have the proper tools for this task and can guarantee the substance is handled properly and no leak will result from the maintenance.

 

4. Unmaintained Condenser Unit

Just because your AC unit is located close to your house doesn’t mean weeds, plants and grass won’t affect it. In fact, because it’s located close to your house, it’s incredibly common for landscape to creep close to the unit and disrupt good airflow. Your condenser requires optimal airflow at all times.

Troubleshooting tip: Clear all growth from around your unit, especially growth that is touching your unit.

  • It’s important to note that even if you don’t have landscape or grass/weeds around your unit, debris of all kinds can still fall into the casing of the condenser.
  • It’s best practice to clean out your condenser once or twice a year, and if your air conditioner is not cooling, a good clean may be just what it needs.

 

5. Thermostat Issues

Your issue could very well be rooted in your thermostat. Often times, thermostat batteries can die or the circuitry system inside a thermostat can malfunction.

Troubleshooting tip: Check to see if the face of the thermostat is blank.

  • If it is, start by changing the batteries.
  • If the problem still persists, you may need to contact a licensed HVAC technician, as the electrical board inside the thermostat may need to be replaced, or a new thermostat may need to be installed altogether.
  • Often times, the wiring that connects the thermostat to the AC unit is fairly complex, and an HVAC professional can ensure the repair or installation is done to code and quickly gets your unit cooling your home again.

 

6. End Frozen Air Handler

If after running through all of these potential issues and your air conditioner is still not cooling, take a look at the air handlers.

Your unit’s air handlers are located behind your air filter and inside the evaporator coils. Once you locate them, see if they’re frozen.

Frozen air handlers can cause AC units to blow warm air because the air from inside your home is being blocked from reaching the refrigerant of the evaporator coils. When this happens, not only is the air not being cooled, your AC unit cannot dehumidify the air inside your home.

Troubleshooting tip:
Unfortunately, if your air handlers are frozen, you will need to turn off your AC unit completely for 24 hours.

  • Within this time period, your unit will defrost and dry out.
  • Before turning your unit back on, take a look at the defrosted evaporator coils.
  • If they are dirty, they will need to be cleaned for your unit to work as efficiently as possible. While you can try to clean them yourself, it’s extremely important that you do not bend the coils or fins at all.
  • To ensure your air handlers are defrosted and properly cleaned, schedule an appointment for an HVAC technician to assess your AC unit and get it working properly again.

 

Certified Air Conditioning Help in Northeast Ohio

Don’t let an air conditioner that isn’t cooling your home ruin your summer. Offering free service calls and 24/7 emergency service, including holidays, Certified Services can ensure that your unit is thoroughly assessed and ready to take on the summer heat.

Schedule an AC repair to get cool air circulating again and learn more about our preventive maintenance program.

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