What To Check Before Your AC Stops Cooling
AC Troubleshooting Guide: What to Check When Your AC Stops Cooling
When your AC stops working on a hot day, it can be stressful. If you can’t get immediate professional help, there are several things you can check yourself that might solve the problem or at least help you understand what’s wrong. HomeSense put together this AC troubleshooting guide to help you know what to check if you find yourself in this situation.
What to Check When Your AC Stops Cooling
1. Filter
It’s easy to lose track of when you last changed it. Check your filter size. If the thickness of the filter is 1 inch or less, it will clog faster and prevent adequate air flow. Filters should be changed out every three months, unless there are pets and a lot of dust in the home, then they should be checked more frequently.
2. Outside Unit
Make sure your outdoor air conditioning unit is not clogged with grass clippings and debris. If it is, use a hose to clean it off. After you clean it, consider having a professional clean and check your entire heating and cooling system to ensure it’s working properly.
3. Coil
If the coil is frozen over, turn the unit off. The coil will freeze up because of poor air flow or a refrigerant leak. If the copper lines have ice on them, then the coil is likely icy too. Nothing can be repaired until the coil is thawed. At this point, the unit is not cooling, so the room temperature will not increase with your system off. Unless your coil froze up because your filter was extremely clogged, you’ll typically need to contact a professional to fix this problem.
4. Condensate Drain
Make sure your condensate drain is flowing. If you can see the end of the drain line, watch for the periodic drips. If the condensate cannot drain, the unit will turn off. If there is a condensate drain pan, there is likely an overflow switch that turns the unit off if the pan fills with water. Is the floor drain open? It could be clogged and prevent the condensate line from draining. You’ll typically need to contact a professional to fix this issue.
5. Outside Electrical Connection
Make sure that the electrical connection is not disconnected or off. Pets and weed trimmers can possibly cause damage to the electrical connection. Once you check this, go inside and make sure that the breaker is not off. There is also a switch on your furnace. It typically looks like a light switch. Sometimes they get accidentally turned off, so make sure it is in the “on” position.
When to Call a Professional
If your system is still not cooling after checking these items, call a professional. Remember, most of these problems can be easily prevented by regular maintenance by a trained professional.
