Edit ArticleHow to Check Your Air Conditioner Before Calling for Service Two Methods:TroubleshootingPreventative MaintenanceCommunity Q&A Of course, it would be the hottest day of the year that your air conditioner stops working! Check out these steps that can possibly save some money, and help you keep your cool at the same time! It's not working at all: the condenser (for an outdoor unit) or air handler/furnace (indoor unit) are not running. Make sure it's plugged in. Whether kids, dogs, or an accidental tap with the vacuum cleaner, the plug could be partially or completely dislodged. Check the circuit breakers and fuses. Circuits, especially with older homes, are easily overloaded if the air conditioner shares a circuit with appliances such as irons, refrigerators, or microwaves. Check your thermostat (cooling control) and make sure it is set to cool at the current temperature, and working properly. As with plugs, sometimes settings can change by accident.

Check your fan blower belt for excessive slack, damage, or breakage. This can cause low air flow which allows ice to form, and thus causes low cooling performance. Repair or replace the blower belt. Allow the ice to melt before restarting the AC unit. Check the coils and filter. Wash your condenser coil once a season, or as needed. Clean or change your filter regularly. This simple step alone can increase the efficiency of your air conditioner. It will also run less, increasing the life span of your equipment. A good sign that your filter needs changing is the fact of ice forming inside your inside cooling unit (evaporator section). This may be difficult to see as the unit is sealed, but touch the outside metal and feel for a noticeable temperature difference. You may also see ice on the large line going to the outside unit (suction line). If ice is forming, it is possible that your air filter is severely dirty and restricting your normal air flow.

This allows ice to form due to the fact that not enough heat is being introduced to your cooling section. Keep your air conditioner clean for optimal performance and reliability. Maintaining your air conditioner and having it serviced regularly increases the efficiency of your unit, reduces energy usage, and prevents wear and tear on your equipment. Do not attempt to diagnose any electrical problem unless you have been properly trained and/or are licensed.estimated cost of new ac unit Do not attempt any repair work unless you are a licensed heating and air conditioning technician. typical ac unit costMost states require a licensed heating and air conditioning contractor to perform any repair work.ton ac unit do you need Do not bend the "fins" on the outside of the condenser.

Make certain to wash the coils in an "up/down" fashion. Do not immediately assume that if your air conditioner is not working that the thermostat is at fault. Tampering with the thermostat or is related wiring can cause more problems than you initially started with. If nothing is happening with the thermostat set, immediately call for service. Do not attempt to add or remove refrigerant from your system unless you are licensed by the EPA. Fines and penalties await those who tamper with or release refrigerant in an unsafe or unapproved fashion. When in doubt, stop. Immediately call a licensed heating and air conditioning contractor.It’s one of the hottest days of summer. You come home from a long day at work to discover that your air conditioner isn’t working properly. You inspect your A/C unit and find that the drain pan your unit sits in is completely full of water. What do you do? In this article, we discuss reasons why water could have pooled in your drain pan and some simple maintenance steps that you can take to prevent this issue from recurring in the future.

In most cases, a full drain pan means that you have a clogged drainpipe. The humid conditions inside the refrigerant coils and pipes are the perfect breeding ground for algae and mold, which can clog the drainpipe over time. If not taken care of, a clogged drainpipe can create serious mechanical problems for the air conditioner. First, turn off the power to your air conditioning unit, even if it isn’t running. With the unit turned off, check the tubing on and around your unit to make sure there are no cracks, holes, or leaks in the drain line. If you find any, these pieces should be replaced. Once you have determined that there are no issues, the next step is to remove the water from the drain pan. The easiest way to do this is with a wet/dry shop vac, which you can pick up at your local hardware store. Simply vacuum up all of the water and dispose of it. Finally, remove any sludge or debris that may be at the drain. Check the drain termination outside for obstructions. 

Be sure the drain outlet is not blocked by mulch, pine straw or other debris. The water is gone, but the source of your problem still needs to be fixed. Start by removing the PVC cap from the top of the drainpipe. Next, use a strong, small wire brush to gently clear the clog. Once the large pieces are gone, pour a cup of bleach in the drain pan and into the top of the drain pipe (don’t forget your eye and hand protection). This will get rid of any additional algae, mold, or mildew that may be gumming up the works. Once the clogs are clear, put the PVC cap back on and turn the power to your A/C unit on. If the unit does not begin to work immediately, turn it off, wait thirty minutes, and turn it back on again. If the problem persists, contact a professional. Regular maintenance can easily prevent this from occurring. If you live in the Raleigh or Wilmington areas of North Carolina, consider purchasing a maintenance service agreement with Newcomb and Company. The scope of our agreement will prevent this issue as well as many others.