What To Do When Your Air Conditioner Goes Out

Updated on 07/01/2019

With the first day of summer approaching, our beloved Indiana heat and humidity is in full force. This means your air conditioning units have to work even harder to maintain a cool temperature throughout the house. But what if the worst happens and your air conditioner breaks down?

We’ve put together our top tips for checking the unit yourself, keeping your family cool, and knowing when to call an HVAC professional.

Investigate the Air Conditioning Unit

1. Check your thermostat

Don’t panic and think you need AC repair service right away. In some cases, the batteries may be dead, or the entire unit could be malfunctioning. In this case, reset your thermostat and check if the air turns back on. If not, go to your physical AC unit and turn it on manually. If it starts, then you know the problem is your thermostat, which you may be able to replace on your own.

2. Check the circuit breaker and power

Air conditioner units can cause surges in electricity use, tripping up the circuit breaker and ultimately causing the power to be cut off. You can easily check the circuit breaker to see if the switch has been flipped. Simply flip it again, and see if the air conditioning comes back on.

3. Check for electrical or water damage

If you don’t find an issue with the thermostat or circuit breaker, you could have electrical or water damage. If this is the case, you may see rusted or leaking tubes, smoke or debris around the unit, in which case you’ll need to call a professional in for repair.

Keep Your Family Cool

From fans to shades to window units, there are plenty of alternatives to air conditioning that you should have on hand in case your AC breaks down. Here’s how you can keep cool:

1. Lower the shades by day…open the windows by night

Opening the windows in the heat of the day will let in outside humidity. Instead, lower your shades during the hottest part of the day, blocking sunlight from getting inside. Once the sun sets, open your windows to let the heat out, and the cool nighttime air in.

Pro Tip: Run your fans counter clockwise at night to create a cross breeze throughout your home.

2. Invest in a dehumidifier

With high humidity levels in Indiana, consider purchasing a dehumidifier so you can keep the air inside your home dry. Find one that is big enough for the largest room in your house, where your family spends the most time. This will add to the comfort levels in your home if the AC goes out.

3. Sleep comfortably

Follow these hacks to sleep more soundly when your AC is out:

• Choose cotton sheets.
• Wear cotton PJs.
• Use fewer covers.
• Take a cool shower before going to bed.
• Dip your feet into cold water before going to bed.
• Unplug electronics to reduce total heat in your room — and save energy!

Know When to Call for Backup

There comes a time when the heat is just too much to handle. If your home repairs aren’t doing anything to fix the problem, it’s probably best to call a professional.

Pro Tip: At Homesense we believe an Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure. Staying up-to-date on AC maintenance is the best way to avoid your AC breaking down.

Replace air filters, drain lines and check refrigerant levels as the season changes from spring to summer, and hopefully you will avoid an AC breakdown!

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