AC Repair in South Beloit and Belvidere, IL: How to Fix 3 Typical Issues

There can be a few reasons why your air conditioning system won’t cool: a tripped circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.

Your system won’t turn on when you have a tripped breaker.

To check if one has blown, go to your residence’s main electrical panel. You can spot this metallic fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

• Make sure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you work on the panel or breakers.
• Look for the breaker identified “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s tripped the lever will be in the middle or “off” location.
• Firmly transfer the switch back to the “on” position. If it instantaneously triggers again, don’t touch it and contact us at 877-389-2465. A switch that keeps turning off could signal your house has electrical trouble.

If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your equipment to run, it won’t switch on.

The main part is making sure it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC may not turn on. Or you may get. heated air moving from vents because the heater is going instead.

If you have a traditional thermostat:

• Swap out the batteries if the screen is blank. If the readout is showing garbled numbers, get a new thermostat.
• Make sure the right mode is on the display. If you can’t change it, cancel it by lowering the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if the configuration is wrong.
• Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat matches the room’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is adjusted properly, you should begin getting chilled air quickly.

If you’re using a smart thermostat, like one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you still can’t get it to work, reach us at 877-389-2465 for assistance.

Your cooling equipment probably has a shut-down switch by its outside unit. This device is generally in a metal box mounted on your residence. If your equipment has recently been repaired, the switch may have accidentally been put in the “off” setting.

Condensate drain pans keep the surplus liquid your system takes out of the air. This pan can be found either under or in your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a clog or backed up drain, water can build up and prompt a safety control to stop your air conditioner.

If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the surplus condensation with a special pan-cleaning tablet. You can buy these capsules at a home improvement or hardware store.

If your pan includes a pump, look for the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you could need to get a new pump. Contact us at 877-389-2465 for support.

If your AC is working but not delivering cold air, its airflow could be obstructed. Or it may not have sufficient refrigerant.

Your equipment’s airflow can be restricted by a blocked air filter or dusty condenser.

A dusty filter can create numerous problems, including:

• Reduced airflow
• Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Uneven cooling
• Higher energy expenses
• Making your system wear out more quickly

We propose changing flat filters every four weeks, and accordion filters every three months.

If you aren’t sure when you last installed a new one, turn off your unit totally and take out the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be found in an adjoining filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.

Angle the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see through it you certainly should get a new one.

Weeds, plants and shrubbery can get in the way of your condensing system. This could limit its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your equipment working properly again.

1. Switch off power fully at the breaker or external lever.
2. Remove plant debris around the AC. Once you’ve gotten rid of bigger debris within a two-foot space, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dust from the condenser fins. Deformed fins can also affect performance, so you can attempt to adjust them with a dinner knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to carefully take off dirt on the fins from inside the equipment. Don’t get liquid on the fan motor.
4. Put the top back on and restore the power.

When cooling systems don’t have enough refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your space.

Here are a few flags that your equipment is seeping refrigerant:

1. It takes a long time to cool your home and you’re constantly decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
2. Cooling moving through the ducts isn’t as chilled as it should be.
3. You’re experiencing fizzing or burbling sounds when the AC works.
4. Your evaporator coil is iced over due to having difficulty taking on humidity.

Suspect your unit is losing refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service professional to fix the leak and refill the correct level of refrigerant in your unit. Reach us at 877-389-2465 for assistance.

When it feels like you’re not getting ample amounts of cold air, there’s potentially an obstruction or disconnection within your cooling unit.

• The beginning place is checking your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s dirty.
• Then make sure the ductwork is open throughout your rooms.
• If you’re still not experiencing sufficient chilly air, you should have your ducts checked by a specialist like Fleming Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. Your ducts might need to be serviced or rejoined in tricky areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.