Why Is My AC Not Working?

In the peak of the summer, having your AC working well makes staying cool feel like a breeze. But what happens when your AC decides to call it quits? Below are common reasons why your air conditioner isn’t working and some ways that you can fix it.

1. Your Thermostat Batteries Are Dead

Sometimes the simplest things are what cause us the most trouble. If your thermostat isn’t displaying anything on the screen, you should switch out the batteries before thinking that this has something to do with your air conditioner malfunctioning. After giving your thermostat new battery life, make sure it’s set to “cool” so it’s not just running the heat or the fan.

2. The Indoor or Outdoor Disconnect Switch is off

Yes, there’s a disconnect switch both indoors and outdoors that helps to power your AC unit. Your indoor switch is usually located in an attic or garage, while your outdoor switch is installed next to your outdoor air conditioner unit. Both of these could have turned off after being accidentally bumped or switched off. Checking to make sure these are both turned on is an easy fix to ensure that your AC is working properly.

3. You Have a Dirty Air Filter That Needs to be Changed

We recommend changing your air filter regularly or at least every 60 days. Otherwise, your air conditioner will not be able to run efficiently if the air filter is dirty. Over time, air filters can get clogged with dust which restricts airflow to your HVAC unit. Without enough airflow, your system can freeze up and will not cool properly. Be sure to change your air filter out to avoid this from happening and to keep your air conditioner running!

4. The Air Coils are Dirty

Fun Fact: Rather than adding coolness to the air, air conditioners suck heat out of the air to cool it. They’re able to do this because of two AC coils, one in your indoor unit and one in the outdoor unit. If the air coils are dirty, they won’t be able to remove the heat from your home efficiently. Instead, your air conditioner will circulate air that’s about the same temperature, and won’t be able to actually cool your home. In order to avoid this, be sure to schedule routine maintenance on your HVAC unit with one of our AC experts. We’ll be able to keep your coils clean so that you can stay cool!

5. Your Circuit Breaker has Tripped

Be sure to check your breaker box. Is there a breaker tripped? If there is, it could be the one that connects to your HVAC system. Reset the breaker and then try your AC again. Remember to be cautious when dealing with electrical work, as a simple task such as resetting a tripped breaker can be dangerous if you aren’t familiar. If you’re unsure why your breaker keeps tripping, don’t hesitate to call one of our HVAC experts to help diagnose the problem!

6. The Coolant is Low

Your refrigerant (or coolant) is what cools the coils in your AC unit, and when air is blown over the cold coils they work to lower the temperature in your home. Without proper coolant, your home will not be able to get cool. A few warning signs of your AC unit being low on coolant include warm or hot air coming from your vents, your energy bills being above average, or your home taking a long time to cool. If your coolant is running low, you’ll need one of our HVAC experts to come out and refill your coolant and check your system for leaks.

7. Your Compressor Needs to be Repaired or Replaced

The compressor in your AC unit compresses and circulates coolant through the unit by passing through the condenser coils and evaporator. If this part of your unit fails, we highly recommend contacting our HVAC professionals to diagnose the situation and replace or repair the compressor. 

You can avoid all of these problems by simply scheduling your HVAC unit to be serviced twice a year by our team of HVAC technicians at Carolina Comfort Air. A maintenance inspection will identify small problems before they turn into big and expensive repairs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!

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