AC Repair in Derby, CT: How to Fix 3 Frequent Troubles

There can be several reasons why your air conditioner won’t start: an overloaded circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a switched off switch or a full condensate drain pan.

Your air conditioning won’t work when you have a blown breaker.

To find out if one has gotten overloaded, go to your house’s main electrical panel. You can find this gray device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

• Ensure your hands and feet are dry before you work on the panel or breakers.
• Look for the breaker labeled “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s overloaded the breaker will be in the middle or “off” position.
• Quickly move the switch back to the “on” spot. If it instantly triggers again, don’t touch it and call us at 203-772-8319. A breaker that keeps tripping may signal your residence has an electrical problem.

If your thermostat isn’t telling your air conditioner to start, it won’t switch on.

The main point is checking it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner might not start running. Or you might have. warm air moving from vents since the furnace is going instead.

If you rely on a digital thermostat:

• Swap out the batteries if the monitor is clear. If the readout is presenting scrambled letters, replace the thermostat.
• Make sure the proper program is showing. If you can’t change it, cancel it by lowering the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if programming is wrong.
• Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is identical to the house’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is calibrated correctly, you should receive cold air promptly.

If you have a smart thermostat, including ones made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for help. If you’re still having problems, reach us at 203-772-8319 for support.

Your AC typically has a power-cutting switch by its outside unit. This device is generally in a metal box attached to your home. If your AC has recently been maintained, the switch may have accidentally been positioned in the “off” location.

Condensate drain pans keep the surplus water your AC removes from the air. This pan is located either beneath or inside your furnace or air handler.

When there’s an obstruction or blocked drain, water can build up and initiate a safety feature to stop your air conditioner.

If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the surplus condensation with a formulated pan-cleaning capsule. You can get these tabs at a home improvement or hardware store.

If your pan has a pump, find the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you could need to get a new pump. Contact us at 203-772-8319 for assistance.

If your air conditioner is running but not delivering cold air, its airflow could be obstructed. Or it may not have adequate refrigerant.

Your system’s airflow can be limited by a plugged air filter or dirty condenser.

A dusty filter can cause many problems, such as:

• Lower airflow
• Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Intermittent cooling
• Increased utility bills
• Causing your system to break down more quickly

We propose changing flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.

If you can’t recall when you last changed yours, shut off your AC fully and remove the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be found in an attached filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.

Angle the filter up to the light. If you see a lot of dust you need to replace it.

Brush, vegetation and sticks can get in the way of your condensing system. This can reduce its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s how you can get your equipment operating smoothly again.

1. Shut off the electrical current fully at the breaker or outdoor switch.
2. Get rid of plant debris around the air conditioner. Once you’ve cleared larger refuse within a two-foot area, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to slowly remove dust from the condenser fins. Deformed fins can also impact efficiency, so you can attempt to straighten them with a small knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to gingerly take off dirt on the fins from inside the system. Be careful to avoid getting water on the fan motor.
4. Put the top back on and restore the power.

When air conditioning equipment doesn’t have enough refrigerant, they’ll struggle to remove heat and humidity from the air.

Here are a few symptoms that your unit is seeping refrigerant:

1. It takes a long time to refresh your home and you’re regularly lowering the thermostat.
2. Air conditioning blowing through the vents isn’t as chilled as it should be.
3. You’re hearing fizzing or bubbling sounds when the air conditioning works.
4. Your evaporator coil is frosted due to having trouble taking on humidity.

Suspect your unit is leaking refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service expert to take care of the leak and restore the correct measurement of refrigerant in your unit. Reach us at 203-772-8319 for assistance.

When it appears like you’re not having adequate amounts of cold air, there’s likely a clog or detachment somewhere in your AC system.

• The first place is looking at your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s dirty.
• Then make sure the vents are open throughout your rooms.
• If you’re still not getting ample chilly air, you should have your duct system inspected by a expert like Giordanos Heating and Air Conditioning. Your ductwork could need to be serviced or relinked in limited space locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.