Some Reasons Your AC Won't Turn On And The Repairs That Might Help
Posted on: 26 August 2019
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When you come back from vacation to a hot house, the first thing you probably do is turn the air conditioner back on. When the AC doesn't come to life as usual, you're left with a perplexing problem. Your AC may not turn on for several reasons. Some of the causes are simple fixes, but you may need to call an air conditioning repair technician to restore your AC. Here's why your AC may not be turning on.
The Circuit Breaker Is Tripped
If there was a storm while you were away, a power surge may have caused the circuit to the AC to flip off. One of the first things you'll want to check is the power supply to your AC. Check the breaker and flip it back on if it's off. Also check the switches inside and outside to make sure they weren't turned off by someone. If you flip the breaker on and it pops back off again, then you should call a repair technician to take a look. Your AC may have electrical damage that needs to be repaired before it is safe to operate again.
The Thermostat Is Malfunctioning
Another common reason that an AC won't turn on is a malfunctioning thermostat. The thermostat may be set wrong, so be sure to check the settings and replace the battery if needed. Check the temperature in the room and then set the thermostat for a lower temperature to see if your AC turns on. If not, the HVAC technician may need to work on the thermostat if it has wiring problems.
The AC Is Covered In Ice
If you left your AC running while you were away and the airflow became obstructed, ice may have formed on the unit. A common cause of an air obstruction is when the filter is clogged up with dust. When air can't flow through your AC properly, ice starts to form and then the AC shuts down. When it shuts down, you'll have to reset the AC once the ice melts. An indication that ice was present and then melted is if you come home to a puddle of water around the air handler. If you come home and find ice still present on the AC, turn your AC off and let the ice melt. Replace the filter, reset your AC, and see if the problem is fixed. If not, you may need to let a technician make repairs. However, the technician can't do anything until the ice is melted.
The Condensation Drain Is Blocked
You may not even realize your AC has a condensation drain. This drains water from a collection pan to the outdoors. Sometimes, there's a pump that pumps the water out. If the drain clogs or the pump fails, then water will rise in the pan, and the water might spill on the floor or back up into the AC. Your air conditioner might shut down when this situation develops. This means that you may need to have the pump replaced or the drain taken apart and cleaned to fix this problem.