AC Repair in Columbus, Ohio: How to Repair 3 Common Issues

There can be a couple of explanations why your air conditioning system won’t run: a tripped circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a shut off switch or a full condensate drain pan.

Your AC won’t turn on when you have a blown breaker.

To see if one has tripped, find your house’s main electrical panel. You can spot this metallic box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

• Ensure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you touch the panel or breakers.
• Find the breaker marked “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s tripped the lever will be in the in between or “off” spot.
• Steadily shift the switch back to the “on” spot. If it instantaneously flips again, leave it alone and call us at 614-451-0846. A fuse that keeps tripping could signal your house has electrical trouble.

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

The most important point is checking it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning might not turn on. Or you might have. warm air blowing from vents since the heat is on instead.

If you have a digital thermostat:

• Put in new batteries if the monitor is blank. If the readout is presenting jumbled characters, buy a new thermostat.
• Make sure the proper setting is showing. If you can’t alter it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if the configuration is incorrect.
• Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is identical to the room’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is set accurately, you should start getting chilled air quickly.

If you have a smart thermostat, like one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for help. If you still can’t get it to work, call us at 614-451-0846 for assistance.

Your air conditioner usually has a shut-off lever near its outside unit. This switch is commonly in a metal box attached to your home. If your equipment has recently been maintained, the lever may have accidentally been positioned in the “off” location.

Condensate drain pans catch the additional liquid your air conditioner takes out of the air. This pan can be situated either beneath or within your furnace or air handler.

When there’s an obstruction or blocked drain, water can accumulate and trigger a safety control to switch off your air conditioner.

If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the extra water with a formulated pan-cleaning tab. You can buy these tabs at a home improvement or hardware retailer.

If your pan has a pump, look for the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you may need to replace the pump. Contact us at 614-451-0846 for assistance.

If your equipment is working but not delivering cold air, its airflow could be obstructed. Or it might not have sufficient refrigerant.

Your unit’s airflow can be reduced by a plugged air filter or dirty condenser.

A filthy filter can lead to numerous issues, like:

• Lower comfort
• Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Inconsistent cooling
• Increased cooling expenses
• Causing your system to break down more quickly

We recommend installing new flat filters monthly, and creased filters every three months.

If you can’t remember when you last installed a new one, switch off your unit completely and pull out the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be situated in an attached filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.

Hold the filter up to your light fixture. If you can’t see through it you need to get a new one.

Weeds, vegetation and bushes can block your condensing system. This may reduce its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your equipment running smoothly again.

1. Turn off electricity fully at the breaker or outside lever.
2. Clear plant waste around the air conditioner. Once you’ve removed larger clutter within a two-foot area, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dust from the equipment’s fins. Kinked fins can also impact effectiveness, so you can attempt to adjust them with a small knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to slowly clean the fins from inside the system. Make sure to avoid getting water on the fan motor.
4. Put the top back on and turn on the power.

When air conditioning units don’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from the air.

Here are a couple of indications that your equipment is losing refrigerant:

1. It takes too long to refresh your residence and you’re continually turning down the thermostat.
2. Cooling blowing through the vents isn’t as chilly as it should be.
3. You’re noticing hissing or burbling racket when cooling runs.
4. Your evaporator coil is frosty because it’s having difficulty handling humidity.

Think your equipment is leaking refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service professional to take care of the leak and refill the proper level of refrigerant in your unit. Get in touch with us at 614-451-0846 for help.

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

• The beginning step is examining your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s filthy.
• Then make sure the registers are clear across your rooms.
• If you’re still not getting sufficient cold air, you should have your ductwork inspected by a professional like Wolfe & Sons. Your ductwork might need to be serviced or reconnected in difficult spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.