Air Conditioner Not Working?
There’s nothing worse than a hot summer day when your AC isn’t working. The good news is that it’s an issue that can be fixed! Whether your AC unit just needs a simple adjustment or it’s something more complex, we are here to help when you wonder, "Why is my air conditioner not working?" Before you give us a call, there are a few things you can do yourself to try and fix the problem. If you still have no luck, leave it to us and we’ll have you back in business in no time!
Why Is My Air Conditioner Not Working?
If your air conditioner is not working, it can be caused by a variety of reasons. Common reasons include dirty or blocked air filters. In other cases, there can be issues with your compressor or refrigerant. This can lead to your ac not blowing air, not turning on, or it just doesn’t seem to be working properly.
Consider the following before calling in for an AC repair:
Make sure the AC unit is plugged in
If your air conditioner isn’t working at all, it may just be because it’s not receiving power. Check the main electrical panel to be sure that your AC unit actually has a working power supply. Sometimes a circuit breaker has tripped and you simply need to reset it. If you find that your breaker is tripping regularly, please contact a qualified electrician as this is most likely not an issue with your AC system, but may in fact be an electrical issue that should be addressed right away.
Check the thermostat
It sounds simple, but sometimes the reason your AC doesn’t work has something to do with the thermostat. You may just have to change the batteries! Make sure that your thermostat is on and set to cool. Set the temperature a few degrees lower than the current room temperature and see if the AC kicks on. Seems obvious, doesn’t it? We’ve seen it happen!
Take a look at the outdoor condenser
If your AC is running but it’s not blowing out enough cool air, it’s time to go outside and take a look at your condenser. Sometimes the condenser gets dirty and/or blocked by pollen, weeds, grass, etc. In this case, clear out anything that may be in the way. We recommend a minimum of 3 feet of clearance for optimum airflow. Let your AC run for a few hours and see if the airflow improves. If not, you may want to consider giving our service team a call.
Clean or replace the air filters
It’s important to regularly clean or replace the air filters in your AC unit because a dirty or clogged filter blocks the flow of cool air into your home. If you have a Mitsubishi ductless unit, simply take out the dirty filter and give it a rinse, wait until it is completely dry and then replace it. For complete instructions on cleaning Mitsubishi ductless system filters, check out our video where Chris demonstrates the process.
If you have a traditional AC unit, the experts at Morris Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning can tell you what size air filter is the correct size for your system. Once the filter is replaced, you should see an improvement in your system’s efficiency right away.
To save yourself from asking, "Why is my air conditioner not working?" consider getting simple annual maintenance of your AC system. Maintenance can reduce equipment breakdowns by as much as 95%. Contact us today at (978) 961-0338 to schedule your yearly appointment!
My AC Is Still Not Working!
If you’ve tried everything and you’re still having a problem with your AC, it’s probably due to an issue that’s a bit more complicated. Your AC might not be working because:
You have no AC at all - Your system’s motor may have burned out due to a blocked filter. Keep in mind that motors are tested at every annual service.
Your AC system is blowing warm air or shuts down completely - A clogged filter can cause the air conditioning coils to ice over which affects the compressor, thus resulting in restricted airflow to the unit.
Your AC system is not blowing cool air - Dirty coils on the outdoor and indoor units can cause this issue.
You have water leaking through the ceiling - Clogged drains can cause water to leak from the unit.
Your AC compressor has failed - it may be due to bad initial system startup, run capacitors, or inexperienced or poorly trained contractors feeding power. It’s very important to get this fixed as the compressor is the heart of the condensing unit!
What Can I Do Next?
If you have an AC problem that is too complicated for you to handle yourself, the best thing to do is to give us a call. We can send one of our experienced service technicians out to you to take care of the problem. Some of our team members have over 40 years of experience in this industry, and we haven’t been stumped by an HVAC question yet!
To learn more about how to get your air conditioner issues fixed, don’t hesitate to contact Morris Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning at (978) 961-0338. We’re standing by to answer your questions.