Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Alliance, Nebraska, can appear like a lot of hassle.

There’s a better way. There are several quick remedies you can attempt by yourself that might help you get out of an AC service call.

When you’re having air conditioning issues, try this checklist before calling a heating and cooling repair professional like Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces.

Our experts are standing by at 308-762-1613 when you need expert service. We have emergency AC repair and work on most brands of central AC equipment.

If you want to get an up to date air conditioner, we also provide AC installation.

When you’re in contact with us, contemplate a yearly AC maintenance plan that may help you keep clear of future malfunctions. We can advise how often you need air conditioner service.

Ready to get started troubleshooting your system? Try our fast tips below. Many of these procedures don’t require any HVAC knowledge.

Air Conditioner Repair Checklist

1. AC Won’t Turn On

There can be several reasons why your central AC system won’t start: a triggered circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overflowing condensate drain pan.

Tripped Circuit Breaker

Your system won’t start when you have an overloaded breaker.

To check if one has tripped, locate your residence’s main electrical panel. You can spot this metallic device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

  • Confirm your hands and feet are free of moisture before you check the panel or breakers.
  • Locate the breaker marked “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” location. If it’s tripped the lever will be in the middle of the panel or “off” location.
  • Steadily move the switch back to the “on” position. If it immediately trips again, don’t touch it and get in touch with us at 308-762-1613. A fuse that keeps tripping could mean your home has electrical trouble.

Wrong Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t telling your equipment to work, it won’t switch on.

The key step is checking it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner may not start running. Or you could get. heated air coming from vents because the heat is going instead.

If you’re using a digital thermostat:

  • Put in new batteries if the readout is empty. If the readout is presenting jumbled characters, get a new thermostat.
  • Make sure the correct program is displaying. If you can’t update it, cancel it by dropping the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if the configuration is not right.
  • Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is set the same as the room’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is adjusted accurately, you should start getting refreshing air fast.

If you have a smart thermostat, such as one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for help. If you still can’t get it to work, reach us at 308-762-1613 for help.

Shut-Off Switch

Your AC typically has a power-cutting switch around its outdoor unit. This switch is generally in a metal box hung on your house. If your AC has recently been fixed, the device may have unintentionally been placed in the “off” position.

Overflowing Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans hold the additional liquid your air conditioner removes from the air. This pan can be found either beneath or in your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a clog or backed up drain, water can become concentrated and initiate a safety setting to stop your unit.

If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the extra condensation with a special pan-cleaning tablet. You can buy these capsules at a home improvement or hardware shop.

If your pan has a pump, find the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you might have to replace the pump. Reach us at 308-762-1613 for support.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your AC is on but not cooling, its airflow might be obstructed. Or it could not have sufficient refrigerant.

Clogged Airflow

Your unit’s airflow can be reduced by a plugged air filter or dirty condenser.

How to Replace Your Air Filter

A dusty filter can lead to numerous problems, like:

  • Limited airflow
  • Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Intermittent cooling
  • Bigger electricity expenses
  • Causing your system to break down sooner

We propose installing new flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.

If you aren’t sure when you last installed a new one, switch off your equipment completely and take out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be located in an adjoining filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.

Angle the filter up to your light fixture. If you see a lot of dust you certainly should replace it.

4 Steps to Cleaning Your Air Conditioning Equipment

Greenery, grass and bushes can block your condensing unit. This may restrict its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your unit working smoothly again.

  1. Shut off power completely at the breaker or outdoor switch.
  2. Get rid of plant debris around the air conditioner. Once you’ve gotten rid of all the refuse within a two-foot area, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to gingerly clean the equipment’s fins. Warped fins can also hurt efficiency, so you can attempt to reshape them with a dinner knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to slowly remove gunk off the fins from inside the system. Don’t get moisture on the fan motor.
  4. Put the top back on and turn the power back on.

Not Enough Refrigerant

When cooling equipment doesn’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll struggle to remove heat and humidity from your space.

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

  1. It takes too long to cool your space and you’re regularly turning down the thermostat.
  2. Air moving through the ducts isn’t as cold as it should be.
  3. You’re noticing hissing or burbling racket when cooling is on.
  4. Your evaporator coil is frozen due to having trouble absorbing humidity.

Worried your system is leaking refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service professional to take care of the leak and restore the correct measurement of refrigerant in your system. Call us at 308-762-1613 for support.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it feels like you’re not having ample amounts of cold air, there’s potentially a blockage or separation inside your AC unit.

  • The initial step is looking at your air filter. Replace it if it’s filthy.
  • Then check the ductwork is clear throughout your house.
  • If you’re still not experiencing adequate chilled air, you should have your duct system checked by a expert like Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces. Your ducts may need to be repaired or rejoined in hard-to-reach areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.

Request Pro Air Conditioner Repair Now

When you require air conditioning service quickly, contact the HVAC repair experts at Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces at 308-762-1613. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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