There is nothing worse than turning on your air conditioner and BAM!!! NOTHING… Absolutely nothing happens. No fan…No humming from the outdoor unit, and of course no cold air coming out of the vents. Your family is complaining about how warm it’s getting and suddenly you begin to sweat a little yourself.
This has happened to all of us at one time or another. So I thought I would make a little list of things a homeowner can check before calling a professional.
- CHECK THE FURNACE FILTER: Yes… the same filter you changed last fall for the furnace. During the air conditioning season the same filter is used. Believe it or not this simple check equals about 50% of our preseason service calls. In my opinion, your filter should be changed every three months.
- CHECK YOUR THERMOSTAT: Make sure the system switch is in the cool mode. Double check the temperature setting. Turn down the temperature at least 5 degrees below the room temperature. Now days most thermostats have built in time delays that equal about 5 to 7 minutes. So be sure to wait for about 10 minutes to allow for any time delays.
- CHECK BREAKERS: Everyone has tripped a breaker by using the microwave and hair dryer at the same time. Right ??? Your air conditioner has sat outside for the 5-6 months. Sometimes the first time a compressor tries to come on all the moving parts take a little to get moving and can draw a little more amps to get going.
- CHECK SUPPLY AND RETURN VENTS: Make sure all the supply air vents are open and free of clothes and furniture. During the winter many people close 1 or 2 vents because they may not be using a room or two. Return air vents are typically against inside walls and are very easy to block with furniture. It’s a good idea to leave a couple inches in front of the grill to allow for proper airflow. With air conditioning air flow is one of the most important functions of the system.
- CHECK THE OUTDOOR UNIT: Oops!!! Did you leave a cover on the air conditioner? Air conditioners do not need to be covered in the winter but it’s our nature to want to cover them. Basically covering an air conditioner just helps to keep the unit looking nice. However, leaving a cover on can cause a safety switch to trip preventing the air conditioner from coming on.
These are just a few simple checks that you can check yourself. In the event your air conditioner does not come on, don’t hesitate to contact us. Manwill Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning. Our trained certified technicians are here to help. Our service department is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. You can reach us at 801-262-4671.
Brian Jackson
Manwill Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning
