HVAC

Before a Call for Air Conditioning Repair Check These 3 Things

woman adjusting HVAC settings | 3 Things to check before call for air conditioner repair | Sanborn's ACwoman adjusting HVAC settings | 3 Things to check before call for air conditioner repair | Sanborn's AC

A call for air conditioning repair is one thing Inland Empire homeowners want to avoid over the summer months. Air conditioner problems mean discomfort in your house, which persists until a repair technician shows up to solve the issue – but what if you don’t have to wait?

There are a few minor issues that occur and make it seem like your air conditioner is broken and in need of repairs. Luckily these issues have quick fixes – you just need to know what to do! Some simple troubleshooting has the potential to save you an air conditioning repair bill, plus the discomfort of waiting without cooling!

Try these three things before you call for air conditioning repair. If these troubleshooting steps do not get your air conditioner cooling again, click to schedule professional air conditioning repair with our licensed HVAC technicians.

Troubleshooting Before Air Conditioning Repair

Before you pick up the phone to call us for air conditioning repair, we recommend you address these three system areas to see if your AC problem has a simple solution. If not, our team is available 24/7 for emergency service if necessary. Otherwise, request an AC repair or service appointment with this link. 

Broken Thermostats Send Wrong Signals to Air Conditioners 

Your home’s thermostat is how you communicate your needs to your air conditioning system. You tell the thermostat what temperature you want inside, and your thermostat tells the air conditioner when to start, how long to run, and when to shut down to meet your needs. What if the thermostat reads the wrong indoor temperature?

Problems with the thermostat settings may prevent your air conditioning unit from starting when you want cooling. It’s easy for kids or a duster to accidentally switch its settings.

Run through this list with your thermostat before you call for air conditioning repair:

  • Check to see that ‘cooling’ mode is selected, not heating. Toggle switches for this control are easily knocked into the wrong position.
  • What’s the set temperature? Make sure it is a few degrees lower than the current room temperature. If the set temperature is not below the current room temperature, the thermostat does not tell your air conditioner to turn on.
  • Make sure the hold or vacation mode is not in effect. These settings pause your regular temperature schedules.
  • Is the thermostat in a bad location? Install thermostats away from direct sun or other heat sources. Interior hallways or other areas where it pulls a good average ambient temperature are best.

Check AC Power Source Before You Call to Repair Air Conditioner

Your thermostat, as well as indoor and outdoor cooling system components, need power to run. A mistakenly flipped switch or tripped breaker cuts power to the components, so they do not turn on as expected.

Check the power to your air conditioner with the following steps:

  • If your thermostat is battery-powered, are the batteries dead? Dead batteries mean there is no control telling your air conditioner to turn on. Replace the batteries if necessary.
  • Check your main electrical panel. Find the fuses or breakers that power circuits to the thermostat (if it is hardwired to your electrical system), indoor air handling equipment, and outdoor condensing unit. 
  • If the breakers are tripped, reset them; fuses are blown, replace them. If this is a recurring issue with these circuits, however, call for air conditioning repair to diagnose the root cause.
  • Check the physical on/off switches to the indoor and outdoor equipment and make sure they are set to ‘on.’ The switches are usually located on the exterior of the AC unit, or on the wall nearby.

Check AC Filter Before Placing a Call for AC Repair

Do you want to overheat your air conditioner or heat pump and force it to shut down? If so, leave a dirty air filter in your HVAC system. When an AC filter is clogged, the blower motor works harder and harder to push air through the system. Finally, safety measures trigger the motor to shut down. 

When an air conditioning system overheats, it must let the components safely cool before it will turn on again. Check your air filter and replace it if needed to see if this resolves the issue.

  • Remove the old filter. If it is dirty and covered with contaminants, replace it with a new filter.
  • Be sure to insert the filter in the proper direction, according to the arrows printed on its frame. These indicate the direction of airflow.
  • We recommend checking the AC filter monthly. Change as needed, usually every two to three months. Smokers, pet-owners and those sensitive to pollen and other allergens should change it more often. 

AC Not Working? Call for Air Conditioning Repair Today!

If you’ve completed these troubleshooting steps but your AC isn’t producing cool air, it’s time to contact us for air conditioning repair. We’ll dispatch our qualified technicians to find the source of the issue, perform reliable fixes, and restore comfort in your Inland Empire area home. 

If you’re tired of your AC not cooling and repeated repair calls, consider an air conditioner installation. We offer a diverse collection of Daikin air conditioners and heat pumps with a range of budget-friendly options. We also offer HVAC finance options for new equipment. Enjoy greater energy efficiency and lower electric bills while you spread out payments. 

You’ll find our team of NATE-certified HVAC technicians throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including Grand Terrace, Rialto, Banning, Loma Linda and East Highland, California. We also serve Fontana, Beaumont, Calimesa, Yucaipa, Moreno Valley and Redlands, California.