AC Repair in Athol, ID: How to Fix 3 Common Troubles

There can be several causes why your AC equipment won’t work: an overloaded circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a shut off switch or a full condensate drain pan.

Your air conditioner won’t work when you have an overloaded breaker.

To determine if one has blown, find your home’s main electrical panel. You can find this metallic fixture 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.
• Locate the breaker marked “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” position. If it’s triggered the breaker will be in the middle of the panel or “off” position.
• Steadily transfer the switch back to the “on” location. If it instantly trips again, don’t touch it and get in touch with us at 208-561-1226. A breaker that keeps flipping may signal your house has electrical trouble.

If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your air conditioner to work, it won’t switch on.

The key step is ensuring it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC will probably not turn on. Or you might have. heated air blowing from vents being the furnace is running instead.

If you’re using a regular thermostat:

• Put in new batteries if the readout is empty. If the screen is showing scrambled letters, replace the thermostat.
• Check the correct mode is displaying. If you can’t update it, cancel it by dropping the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if programming is incorrect.
• Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees cooler than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat matches the house’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is adjusted correctly, you should start getting cold air fast.

If you rely on a smart thermostat, including ones manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If it still won’t work, call us at 208-561-1226 for support.

Your cooling equipment typically has a power-cutting lever around its condenser. This device is commonly in a metal box attached to your house. If your air conditioner has recently been worked on, the device may have inadvertently been positioned in the “off” position.

Condensate drain pans catch the additional condensation your system removes from the air. This pan is located either under or in your furnace or air handler.

When there’s an obstruction or clogged drain, water can build up and prompt a safety control to switch off your equipment.

If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the extra liquid with a formulated pan-cleaning capsule. You can buy these tabs at a home improvement or hardware retailer.

If your pan involves a pump, find the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you may need to replace the pump. Reach us at 208-561-1226 for help.

If your equipment is going but not cooling, its airflow could be blocked. Or it might not have sufficient refrigerant.

Your equipment’s airflow can be decreased by a blocked air filter or filthy condenser.

A dusty filter can create numerous problems, like:

• Limited airflow
• Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Intermittent cooling
• Bigger energy expenses
• Causing your system to stop working more quickly

We suggest changing flat filters once a month, and creased filters every three months.

If you can’t recall when you last installed a new one, shut off your equipment completely and remove the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be located in a connected filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.

Hold the filter up to the light. If you can’t see any light you certainly should get a new one.

Greenery, grass and bushes can get in the way of your condensing equipment. This can limit its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your unit working smoothly again.

1. Switch off the electrical current fully at the breaker or outdoor device.
2. Get rid of yard waste around the AC. Once you’ve cleared all the clutter within a two-foot area, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to gingerly clean the equipment’s fins. Crooked fins can also affect efficiency, so you can attempt to adjust them with a blunt knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to carefully remove gunk off the fins from inside the equipment. Don’t get liquid on the fan motor.
4. Install the top again and turn the power back on.

When AC equipment doesn’t have enough refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your residence.

Here are a few signs that your system is leaking refrigerant:

1. It takes an extended amount of time to lower the temperature in your rooms and you’re regularly lowering the thermostat.
2. Air coming through the ducts isn’t as chilled as it should be.
3. You’re hearing fizzing or gurgling noises when the air conditioning works.
4. Your evaporator coil is frosty due to having trouble handling heat.

Think your system is losing refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service specialist to take care of the leak and replenish the proper amount of refrigerant in your unit. Reach us at 208-561-1226 for help.

When it seems like you’re not getting ample amounts of cool air, there’s likely an obstruction or separation within your AC unit.

• The beginning place is looking at your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s dirty.
• Then make sure the ductwork is free around your residence.
• If you’re still not experiencing ample chilly air, you should have your ductwork examined by a specialist like Alpine Summit Heating & Cooling. Your ductwork could need to be serviced or relinked in difficult areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.