A/C Troubleshooting

A/C not blowing cold air? If your air conditioner stops working, we have a couple of things you can try in troubleshooting air conditioning yourselves. Here’s our handy AC troubleshooting guide as a downloadable printable pdf or read more below for tips.

Tips for Troubleshooting Air Conditioning

fan in white - troubleshooting air conditioning

  1. Is the filter clean? Sometimes systems will shut down if there is poor air flow. Check your HVAC filter. If you have a washable filter, wash it.  If you have a throw away filter, replace it.
  2. Replace thermostat batteries yearly and make sure terminals are clean and not corroded.
  3. Is the fan inside the house running? If not, check the main breaker box and reset the one labeled Fan/Air Handler/Furnace.
  4. Is the fan outside running? If not, check the main breaker box and reset the one labeled A/C.
  5. If the outdoor unit still isn’t working, there is a “disconnect box” next to the unit attached to the house. Pull the fuses out and get tested or replace (hardware stores can help). Make sure replacement fuses are time-delay fuses.

Other A/C tips:

  • Don’t leave the a/c completely off! Set temperature to 80 degrees or so if you leave in the morning so it can reach the temperature you want when you get home.
  • If it is over 100 degrees and you can only cool the house to 80, there is a chance everything is fine, especially older systems. Physics are that the hotter it is outside, the harder it is pre-cool the Freon before it cycles back through the system.
  • Keep a set of fuses at all times just in case. Twice this has fixed my own unit! Here’s our video on how to replace a blown fuse.
  • Do not set your thermostat super low thinking it will cool faster! You can freeze out your system by trying to set the stat down to 70 degrees or lower. Lower in 4-5 degree increments at a time. If its 85 in the house, lower stat to 80. Once it reaches 80, then set down to 75-78 (if that is where you like it).

If you are having issues, please call us as soon as possible. We have a tech on call Saturday mornings and all calls are scheduled in the order received. Don’t wait until Monday to call if you have issues Friday night!

916-481-0658
www.hotcold.com