The Ten Basics of AC Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting Your AC Unit
In the Ten Basics of AC Troubleshooting guide, we have all had those forehead-smacking moments of frustration and embarrassment when you seek professional help for a problem with something you own like your TV, car, or cell phone when the solution is quite simple, even obvious. Well, this can happen with your Air conditioner too.
When the heat hits you, your first instinct is to call for a professional service technician for help. We certainly understand that at Atlantis Air Conditioning Repair, and we are here to help 24/7 whenever you call; our well-stocked company repair van will be on its way to bring you cooling relief from the heat.
But it could be something simple. So let’s play Sherlock and go over a short troubleshooting list of common AC problems to see if we can weed out some of the possibilities and hopefully have you chilling in your home asap. After all, it is very satisfying to say, “it was simple, and I saved time and money.” If you don’t find your AC issue on our troubleshooting list, please contact us at Atlantis Air Conditioning tel (561) 586-1233
AC Troubleshooting: Water Leaking Inside or Outside
If water is dripping outside through the condensate drain line, it is just a sign that your AC is removing the excess moisture from the air. The water flowing from the drain line will be more noticeable when the humidity is high. If the water is not leaking from the drain line, it will collect somewhere else, which is a problem.
Water leaks inside are never a good sign and will often connect to one of the other AC problems listed individually below. It can be simple as it is too cool outside to run the AC, the drain line is disconnected, or the drip pan could be damaged or rusting. The other AC problems it may be linked to include dirty filter, low refrigerant from a refrigerant leak, dirty evaporator coils, and condensate pump not working.
AC Troubleshooting: Electrical Connection
The first item to check off your AC problems list: Do you have power? The first step is to turn on the lights. If they come on, we move on to the circuit breaker box. Check for any thrown circuit breaker or blown fuses from a possible power surge etc.
Please remember your HVAC will have a dedicated 220 or 240-volt circuit breaker near the unit, so you will need to check both the electrical panel and the dedicated breaker/disconnect.
Remember, electricity can be dangerous. Do not attempt to do electrical repairs yourself; call a professional. If the fuse is blown or the circuit breaker is tripped, and you replace or throw the switch, if it trips again, DO NOT TURN IT ON AGAIN.
Please call for a professional technician to do a complete diagnostic exam of your HVAC system. We at Atlantis Air conditioning are ready to come to your aid 24/7, and our repair vans are stocked with many commonly required parts to complete your repair immediately and safely.
AC Troubleshooting: Check Your Thermostat Settings
The battle over the Air Conditioner thermostat is a reality in many homes, so you want to check to make sure your significant other has not raised the thermostat to “hot as Hades” LOL “Some like it hot” is not just the name of an old movie.
There is a wide variety of thermostats. They are the control center for your cooling system allowing you to set the temperature and fan speed. There’s the basic thermostat you must go to and change settings. But we now also have the luxury of energy-saving smart wifi-connected thermostats that allow us to control our AC with our wifi-connected devices, smartphones, and tablets. These smart thermostats will enable us to save energy by setting our air conditioners to run at more energy-efficient settings when we are away from home and lower to cooler temperatures before we arrive home.
Before calling for a Service Technician for any of these issues
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The temperature reading on the thermostat is higher than desired
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Warm air comes from the vents sometimes, and cold air blows at other times.
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No air coming from the vents
If you are experiencing any of these conditions, check your thermostat before calling an AC service technician.
- Check the temperature settings to confirm another household member has not changed it.
- Warm air? Is your thermostat set on Heating instead of cooling? If so, change the setting to cooling or automatic, allowing your Air Conditioner to adjust to maintain your desired temperature automatically.
- There are three options for the fan “on,” “off,” and “auto” When the fan is in the on position, the fan motor will run continuously. Even when the air is not cooling, it will blow warmer air if the AC is not running. The fix for this is to change the setting to auto, so the fan only blows when there is cool air to circulate.
- If you have an intelligent programmable thermostat, examine your comfort setting schedule for any changes you need to make to the time frames for cooling and energy savings. Most families set their units to cool the house when they expect to arrive home and to more energy-efficient settings when they are away for work, school, or sleeping.
After you have made these troubleshooting adjustments and still having issues, it may be time to call for your professional troubleshooter Atlantis Air Conditioning. We are available for emergency service 24/7 for your convenience and comfort.
AC Troubleshooting: Dirty Air Filters Bad For You, Bad For Your Cooling System
Your next basic step in AC troubleshooting is checking your air filter. Clean filters are essential in keeping your air quality and efficient airflow. Not maintaining your filters can lead to clogged air filters, which will block the airflow coming in to be cooled by the coils. This blockage can damage your unit and reduce the cold air from the vents.
Dirty filters are a common ac problem; it is a good idea to schedule a reminder to change and maintain the air filters. How often you change them will vary by household conditions and occupants. People with pets, smoke, or live in areas with more airborne pollution may need to change their filters more often.
Most manufacturers recommend every 90 days, but people with pets may need to change as frequently as every month. Dirty air filters can lead to loss of comfort, the inefficiency of your cooling system, and your HVAC system could fail in extreme cases.
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Signs You May Have Dirty Filters
- Your home is warmer than usual, despite your thermostat temperature setting.
- There is reduced airflow coming from your cooling vents.
- Your AC is short cycling starting and shutting off frequently.
Check your manufacturer’s owner’s manual for directions for cleaning or replacing your air filters. Your basic filters are often inside the furnace cabinet, but if your system has a larger, more complex filter, they are often outside the furnace in between the furnace cabinet and your return air duct.
When cleaning or changing the filter does not resolve your cooling issues, you might need to contact your fully trained Air Conditioning technicians at Atlantis Air Conditioner to fix your AC problems 24/7.
AC Troubleshooting: Low Refrigerant
The refrigerant flows through copper tubing looping through your air conditioner. It pulls the heat from your house and deposits it outside, leaving behind comfortable, cooled, dehumidified air.
If your refrigerant level gets too low, you might notice the following issues.
- The House temperature is not reaching or maintaining your pre-set cool temperature.
- Your air conditioner is running longer without getting cool.
- Or you might notice it repeatedly cycling on and off quickly, called short cycling.
After confirming your thermostat is set to your desired temperature and, your air filter is clean, your home is still too warm, you may have a leak or something else that is causing your refrigerant levels to drop to an inefficient level. It is time to call upon one of our qualified, courteous HVAC technicians at Atlantis Air Conditioning Corp. Do not try to AC troubleshoot any refrigerant leaks or issues yourself. You need professionals.
Frozen Evaporator Coils
AC Troubleshooting:
Frozen Evaporator Coils
The next item on our AC troubleshooter list is the evaporator coils. With the normal central air split system, the evaporator coil is frequently found inside the home or in the garage it is part of the air handler system. The evaporator coil, if it is a fan coil, is usually found inside the fan coil cabinet.
Signs of a Frozen Evaporator Coil
- Are your energy bills rising?
- The house not cooling efficiently.
- Condensation draining near your indoor unit
- Frost or ice on the copper tubing carrying the refrigerant from your evaporator coil cabinet
- Frost forming on the copper tubing of the outdoor unit
What Causes Evaporator Coils to Freeze
- The build-up of dirt, dust, and other pollutants on the evaporator coil
- Very dirty or clogged air filters
- Heavy buildup of dirt, dust, and debris on the condensing unit outside
- And surprisingly, Low Refrigerant Levels also can cause evaporator coils to freeze
A frozen evaporator coil can cause serious damage to the coil and create a costly repair bill. If your coil is frozen, your best course of action is to shut the system down and call Atlantis Air Conditioning for repairs. The coil is not easily accessible, and the refrigerant level issues need to be handled by a professional.
Please do not attempt to AC troubleshoot electrical or refrigerant issues on your own. These issues truly require a trained, licensed technician.
AC Troubleshooting: Condensing Unit is Broken or Failing
The condensing unit of a split system central air conditioner sits outside the home and contains the outdoor coil, the condenser fan, the condenser fan, and the electronic controls. When AC troubleshooting your air conditioner problems, you can look at the condensing unit for issues such.
- Not cooling or not cooling sufficiently
- When the system is short cycling (turning on and off rapidly)
- When the air conditioner is running continuously or for excessively long periods of time
- You are seeing ice on the coil or cooper refrigeration tubing
- Condensation unit not working at all
Some of the causes of condensing unit failure are the same as with the evaporator coil, extremely dirty coil, or a refrigerant leak. The outdoor unit may also have additional causes, such as a damaged compressor, a failed condenser fan motor, or issues with the run capacitor. These issues require the expert care of a trained AC repair technician for rapid service 24/7, please call Atlantis Air Conditioning.
Please do not attempt to troubleshoot electrical or refrigerant issues on your own.
Is it time to call the Expert in AC Troubleshooting for your Air Conditioning Problems?
Now that you know what some of the common issues are with Air Conditioners, you can save time and money. But deciding when you need the help of true professionals is also very important they know all the areas to troubleshoot and have the expertise to repair the issues to have you comfortable in your home asap.
Their training allows them to address all the performance issues and connected issues that are causing your AC to fail to cool your home comfortably and raise your energy bills.
Failing to diagnose and repair issues can lead to further damage and possibly a total system failure and require replacement.
We highly recommend maintenance programs with a technician AC troubleshooting your unit for problems on a pre-determined schedule. This maintenance helps to prevent emergency repairs. Please call 
Atlantis Air Conditioning we are here to serve all your 24 hour AC emergency service for all of your cooling and heating needs.
AC LIFESPAN
HOW LONG DO AIR CONDITIONERS LAST?
WHAT IS CENTRAL AIR AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
- What is a Split System HVAC?
- Learn about AC Maintenance
- Need help with AC Fan Not Working?
- Learn about Central Air Conditioner
- Air Conditioner Not Cooling
- What is an AC Tune-up
