14 Easy Fixes to Common Air Conditioner Problems

Home-Tech has been repairing and replacing AC systems in Southwest Florida since 1981. Get back to enjoying your home with this troubleshooting guide to help you address the most common air conditioner problems.

Air Conditioner Won’t Turn On

Adjust Your Thermostat
Head Outside to Evaluate the Coils
Check the Fuse
Make Sure You Have a Clean Filter
If You DO Have a Dirty/Clogged Filter…
You May Have a Refrigerant Leak
Your Motor May Be on the Fritz
Your Thermometer May Need Replaced

Need Professional Help For Your Air Conditioner Problems?
Air Conditioner Is Not Cooling

Check Your Thermostat
Check Your Air Filter
You May Have a Dirty/Clogged Filter
Your Outside Unit May Be Dirty
You May Have a Refrigerant Leak
You May Have a Bad Compressor

Time to Call in the Professionals?

Air Conditioner Won’t Turn On

1. Adjust Your Thermostat

Set your thermostat to cool (if it isn’t already) and lower the temperature a good 5 degrees or more. The fan should be set to “Auto” not “On”.

2. Head Outside to Evaluate the Coils

Go outside and check the unit to see if it is running and if there is any debris on the coils. If you see debris, first turn off the power source to your AC. You can spray the outside of the unit with a garden hose to try to remove the debris. If that doesn’t remove the debris, please contact us for a more thorough cleaning.

3. Check the Fuse

Check to see if you have a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker. If fuse is blown, replace the fuse. If the circuit breaker is tripped, reset it but do not force it if it trips right away again.

4. Make Sure You Have a Clean Filter

If your filter is clogged with dirt, the AC will not have proper air flow. This causes your AC to struggle to circulate enough cool air to get your home to the desired temperature. It also can cause your evaporator coil to freeze, blocking air. If you have a dirty air filter, replace it with a new one.

dirty home air conditioner filter

5. If You DO Have a Dirty/Clogged Filter…

You could have a clogged condensate drain line. Use a shop vac to suck out the drain line which is likely near the outside unit, coming out of the wall or sticking out of the ground. Leave it on the line for a bit. You will eventually see sludge, dirt and/or mold in the water inside the shop vac. If it’s too clogged you will need to contact us. We use a special vacuum to suck out the blockage.

6. You May Have a Refrigerant Leak

The only way to really know this is to have a professional take a look. Contact us right away if you are at all unsure if this is the problem with your air conditioner. This could lead to health issues.

7. Your Motor May Be on the Fritz

If your AC has been making weird sounds before it stopped working altogether, your motor may have stopped working. If your motor isn’t working, we will give you a quote for the cost to fix it (if possible) versus the cost to replace the AC unit.

8. Your Thermometer May Need Replaced

Your thermostat may need to be replaced. Because it is the control panel for your air conditioner, if it is not working properly it can stop your AC from turning on. If the thermostat screen is blank, displaying a symbol to replace the batteries, broken or outdated, you will need to address the issue.

Need Professional Help For Your Air Conditioner Problems?

We know that in this Florida heat, when your air conditioner stops working, it’s an emergency! Your comfort is our number one priority. If you decide it’s time to call the professionals for your air conditioner problems, please contact us! We can get your air conditioner up and running again 7 days a week – even on holidays.

Air Conditioner Is Not Cooling

So the AC is running but the air is just not cool. Here are some problems you can try to solve.

1. Check Your Thermostat

Check that your thermostat fan is set to Auto not On. When in the On position, the fan will run 24/7 – even if the air coming out is not being cooled.

2. Check Your Air Filter

A dirty air filter will reduce airflow into your AC. This can cause the AC to struggle to circulate enough cool air to get your home to the desired temperature. It also can cause your evaporator coil to freeze, blocking air. If you have a dirty air filter, replace it with a new one.

3. You May Have a Dirty/Clogged Filter

If you did have a dirty/clogged air filter, you could have a clogged condensate drain line. Use a shop vac to suck out the drain line which is likely near the outside unit, coming out of the wall or sticking out of the ground. Leave it on the line for a bit. You will eventually see sludge, dirt and/or mold in the water inside the shop vac. If it’s too clogged you will need to contact us. We use a special vacuum to suck out the blockage.

4. Your Outside Unit May Be Dirty

heck the outside unit for dirt and debris. If there is a bunch of debris caught in the grill it causes your air conditioner to struggle to cool your home. Turn off the power source to your AC. Spray the outside with a garden hose on a gentle setting. Remove any debris blocking the grill. It needs breathing room! If this doesn’t do the trick, please contact us for a more thorough cleaning.

5. You May Have a Refrigerant Leak

You could have a refrigerant leak. In this case you really need to contact us!

6. You May Have a Bad Compressor

You could have a bad compressor, which circulates refrigerant between the inside and outside units. If the compressor is damaged, the air conditioner cannot cool your air. If this is the case, we can give you a quote for fixing it or replacing the entire outside unit.

Time to Call in the Professionals?

If your AC is still not cooling your house after checking these issues, contact us! We know air conditioner problems can be a real buzzkill. Your comfort is our number one priority. We can get your air conditioner up and running again 7 days a week – even on holidays.