On a hot 95+ degree day, no one wants to deal with melted ice cream. That’s why we have air conditioning! Hot weather here in Austin means trips to Barton Springs, bike rides, and cookouts on the patio with tall iced beverages. It’s all fun in the sun until your air conditioning goes out. Below we’ll take a look at some of the most common AC problems and offer some tips for basic air conditioner troubleshooting. Air conditioning systems cool air using an evaporator coil within your inside AC unit. Inside the coil is a refrigerant such as Freon that cools down the coil. The AC unit draws in warm air and blows it over the coil, where the refrigerant absorbs the heat and the newly chilled air is sent back into your home. The hot refrigerant is cycled outside your home to the compressor unit where it transfers the heat outside, and then gets condensed and returned back into the inside unit. If your air conditioning unit stops blowing cold air, it’s a great idea to try some basic troubleshooting before calling for a repair.

It could be that the cause of the problem is simple enough for you to fix on your own.If there’s little to no air getting to the unit, the condensation on the evaporator coils will freeze up. The first thing to do is to check your air filters. If they’re dirty, you’ve likely found the culprit, as this can cause the unit to freeze up. Next, check the evaporator coil within your indoor unit. Turn off your AC at the thermostat and then remove the front panel of the unit. If there’s frost on the coils inside, that’s what’s causing your unit to malfunction. Usually, this problem can be easily resolved by turning off the unit long enough for the coils to defrost, usually about 90 minutes. Run the fan to help speed the process and keep air moving, but the “cool” setting should not be engaged on your thermostat during this time.Unit leaking Freon can freeze up due to lower pressure within the system. To resolve this particular issue, you will need to get a certified HVAC company to add more Freon and fix the leak.

Depending on the location and nature of the leak, however, it could be a sign that the unit needs to be replaced. how an outside ac unit worksMonitor your AC performance after any such maintenance, and if it happens again, it might mean it’s time for a new unit.my ac window unit is not cooling Clean out the condensate drain. ac unit for apartmentWhen AC units run, they not only lower the inside air temperature but also remove humidity. This moisture then drains through a small pipe to the outside. Over time, algae or insects seeking moisture can clog this drain, and that in turn causes your unit to shut down. You can pour a mixture of equal parts water and household bleach into the drain pan to clean out the line. Check the compressor outside.

When the A/C unit kicks on, the outdoor compressor should start to run, and you should hear the motor and be able to see the fan turning inside. If it isn’t running, check your unit for a reset or overload switch (not all have them). You can also try spinning the fan blades clockwise with a screwdriver. If it’s not working, you may have a faulty capacitor that will need to be replaced. It’s also possible that the unit has shorted out due to an animal climbing inside the unit. A professional HVAC technician will need to inspect the unit if it’s not turning on. If you’ve run through our list of AC troubleshooting tips and can’t resolve your problem, it’s time to call out professionals to inspect your AC unit. At ABC Home and Commercial Services Austin, we can send out experienced HVAC staff to provide all necessary servicing and repairs. Also, it’s a great idea to schedule AC tune-ups with our technicians before you run into any trouble during the busy summer season.

As a rule of thumb, 400 square feet per 12,000 BTUs (12,000 BTUs equals one ton of air conditioning). However, you must account for other factors which will affect the total heat load. Please click the following link to find your cooling need. 3 Years with warranty registration OR 1 Year for unregistered units. Click the following links to view our standard warranty. Classic 10, Office Pro 12, Classic Plus 14, Office Pro 18, Office Pro W20 (115 volt-standard household current) Office Pro 24,Office Pro 36, Office Pro 60, Classic Plus 26 (208/230 volt single phase) Classic 40 (220 volt three phase) Classic 60, Office Pro 63 (460 volt three phase)Length specified is total length in and out of unit. For condenser plenum, 10’ inlet and 10’ outlet = 20 total feet. Each 90 deg bend = approx 8’-10’ of duct. Blocking one duct is not recommended. Too much static pressure can build up and the unit will shut down. We recommend extreme caution when using extension cords.

The following guideline is recommended: It must be safety listed and 3-wire grounding type appliance extension cord. The marked rating of the extension cord should be the same as the voltage requirement and the recommended fuse size on the specification sheet. Note: Before clearing the diagnostic code, be sure to find and correct the problem. For the Office Pro units with the old controller (Units manufactured before April 2007 with a green LED): 1) Unplug the unit and wait for 5 seconds. 2) Push and hold the HRS and MIN buttons simultaneously. 3) Then plug the unit in while still holding the buttons. For Classic Plus units with the old controller (Units manufactured before April 2007 with a green LED): 2) Push and hold both fan speed buttons simultaneously. For units with the new controller (for all Office Pro and Classic Plus units manufactured from April 2007 to present): Press hold COOL ON/OFF and FAN HI/LO simultaneously for 5 seconds. For units with the new controller:

- CL10 (Units manufactured from January 2008 to present) - CL40 (Units manufactured from May 2009 to present) - CL60 (Units manufactured from April 2009 to present) Hold down both SET TEMP buttons (up & down arrows) simultaneously for 3 seconds. CM25 & CMW30 - Swing Inverter, 2 Years on the Unit and 3 Years on the Compressor with warranty registration OR 1 Year on the Unit and 3 Years on the Compressor for unregistered units. The compressor adjusts its speed based on the temperature in the room minimizing power consumption. Unlike conventional compressors which cycle on and off repetitively, an inverter compressor has the ability to adjust its speed based on the amount of cooling needed. This helps eliminate the wear and tear of constant starting and stopping. The pistons in a swing compressor move smoothly, decreasing friction and vibration. It also prevents the leakage of refrigerant gas during compression. CM12 (115 volt-standard household current)

CM25 (208/230 volt single phase) CMW30 (208/230 volt single phase) Refer to the following table, "Connecting thermostat to CM12 unit" on the operation manual. Connect RC on the thermostat to RC on the unit, Y on the thermostat to Y on the unit, G on the thermostat to G on the unit. G1- Most of the thermostats do not have Fan Hi/Low button. In this case don't connect G1 and the unit will run at high fan speed. Wall Thermostat Connector NameEach 90 deg bend = approx 8’-10’ of duct Make sure the unit is connected to the right voltage and recommended breaker. Check for power at the receptacle. Inspect and replace fuse on the relay/control board (if blown). Some thermostats require resetting when power is restored after a power interruption. Check duct for any blockage or excessive kinks. Check wiring connection between Wall mounted Controller (in case of CM25 & CMW30)/ millivolt wall thermostat and the unit. Check for OFF signal input from the fire alarm control panel.