AC Repair in Los Angeles, CA: How to Handle 3 Common Troubles

There can be a couple of causes why your air conditioning system won’t cool: an overloaded circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.

Your system won’t turn on when you have a tripped breaker.

To determine if one has blown, go to your home’s main electrical panel. You can spot this gray fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

• Ensure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you work on the panel or breakers.
• Locate the breaker labeled “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s triggered the lever will be in the middle of the panel or “off” position.
• Firmly shift the breaker back to the “on” position. If it instantly flips again, leave it alone and get in touch with us at 800-296-5088. A switch that keeps turning off could mean your house has an electrical issue.

If your thermostat isn’t signaling your air conditioner to start, it won’t turn on.

The most important step is ensuring it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning might not switch on. Or you may receive. hot air moving from vents being the heat is going instead.

If you rely on a traditional thermostat:

• Put in new batteries if the screen is clear. If the screen is showing jumbled characters, buy a new thermostat.
• Make sure the proper program is on the display. If you can’t alter it, cancel it by dropping the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if programming is not right.
• Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat matches the room’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is adjusted accurately, you should receive cool air quickly.

If you have a smart thermostat, such as one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you still can’t get it to work, contact us at 800-296-5088 for help.

Your cooling equipment probably has a shut-down lever around its outdoor unit. This switch is typically in a metal box attached to your home. If your unit has recently been serviced, the lever may have unintentionally been put in the “off” location.

Condensate drain pans keep the additional water your AC takes out of the air. This pan is located either beneath or in your furnace or air handler.

When there’s an obstruction or backed up drain, water can become concentrated and prompt a safety control to stop your unit.

If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the surplus condensation with a formulated pan-cleaning tab. You can get these tablets at a home improvement or hardware retailer.

If your pan involves a pump, look for the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you might have to replace the pump. Contact us at 800-296-5088 for assistance.

If your system is on but not delivering cold air, its airflow may be blocked. Or it may not have adequate refrigerant.

Your system’s airflow can be decreased by a clogged air filter or dusty condenser.

A dirty filter can create many troubles, including:

• Lower cooling
• Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Intermittent cooling
• Bigger utility bills
• Leading your system to wear out sooner

We suggest installing new flat filters once a month, and accordion filters every three months.

If you aren’t sure when you last replaced yours, shut off your system totally and remove the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be located in an adjoining filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.

Angle the filter up to your light fixture. If you see a lot of dust you should buy a new filter.

Brush, vegetation and shrubbery can block your condensing equipment. This could reduce its airflow, make it less energy efficient and change your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your equipment running well again.

1. Switch off power totally at the breaker or external lever.
2. Get rid of greenery waste around the equipment. Once you’ve gotten rid of bigger debris within a two-foot area, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dirt from the equipment’s fins. Crooked fins can also hurt capability, so you can attempt to straighten them with a small knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to carefully clean the fins from inside the system. Don’t get moisture on the fan motor.
4. Replace the top and turn the power back on.

When air conditioning units don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your space.

Here are a few signs that your unit is losing refrigerant:

1. It takes too long to lower the temperature in your space and you’re constantly lowering the thermostat.
2. Cooling blowing through the registers isn’t as cold as it should be.
3. You’re noticing fizzing or burbling noises when the AC works.
4. Your evaporator coil is frosty as a result of having trouble absorbing warmth.

Worried your unit is seeping refrigerant? You need a qualified heating and cooling service professional to repair the leak and restore the proper level of refrigerant in your equipment. Get in touch with us at 800-296-5088 for support.

When it feels like you’re not receiving ample amounts of cold air, there’s possibly a blockage or separation somewhere in your AC unit.

• The initial place is examining your air filter. Get a new one if it’s soiled.
• Then ensure the registers are open across your rooms.
• If you’re still not receiving sufficient chilled air, you should have your duct system checked by a professional like AZ Air Conditioning and Heating. Your ducts might need to be repaired or reconnected in tricky locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.