AC Repair in Lexington, NC: How to Handle 3 Typical Problems

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

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

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

• Ensure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you check the panel or breakers.
• Look for the breaker marked “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s triggered the lever will be in the middle of the panel or “off” position.
• Quickly move the breaker back to the “on” position. If it instantly triggers again, don’t reset it and reach us at 336-853-6070. A fuse that keeps turning off might signal your residence has electrical trouble.

If your thermostat isn’t telling your air conditioner to start, it won’t turn on.

The main point is checking it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning will probably not start running. Or you may receive. warm air moving from vents because the furnace is running instead.

If you rely on a traditional thermostat:

• Swap out the batteries if the screen is blank. If the readout is presenting garbled numbers, replace the thermostat.
• Ensure the right mode is displaying. If you can’t update it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if programming is not right.
• Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is set the same as the house’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is set properly, you should begin getting cool air fast.

If you have a smart thermostat, including ones manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you’re still having problems, call us at 336-853-6070 for help.

Your cooling equipment usually has a shut-down switch around its outside unit. This lever is typically in a metal box mounted on your house. If your equipment has recently been repaired, the device may have inadvertently been positioned in the “off” setting.

Condensate drain pans hold the additional water your air conditioner takes out of the air. This pan is located either below or inside your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a blockage or backed up drain, water can become concentrated and prompt a safety setting to switch off your system.

If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the surplus water with a custom pan-cleaning tab. You can get these tabs at a home improvement or hardware shop.

If your pan involves a pump, locate the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you may need to install a new pump. Contact us at 336-853-6070 for help.

If your equipment is running but not delivering cold air, its airflow may be blocked. Or it might not have adequate refrigerant.

Your unit’s airflow can be limited by a plugged air filter or filthy condenser.

A filthy filter can cause many problems, such as:

• Limited comfort
• Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Inconsistent cooling
• Bigger cooling expenses
• Making your system wear out more quickly

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

If you can’t remember when you last replaced yours, shut off your equipment totally and take out the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be located in a connected filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.

Tilt the filter up to the light. If you can’t see any light you certainly should buy a new filter.

Weeds, vegetation and bushes can block your condensing system. This could restrict its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s how you can get your system running properly again.

1. Turn off electricity completely at the breaker or outdoor switch.
2. Clear greenery debris around the unit. Once you’ve cleared all the debris within a two-foot range, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to gingerly clean the condenser fins. Crooked fins can also affect effectiveness, so you can attempt to straighten them with a blunt knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to carefully clean the fins from inside the equipment. Be careful to avoid getting water on the fan motor.
4. Put the top back on and turn on the power.

When AC systems don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your space.

Here are a couple of symptoms that your equipment is leaking refrigerant:

1. It takes an extended amount of time to cool your residence and you’re continually decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
2. Air coming through the registers isn’t as cold as it should be.
3. You’re experiencing fizzing or burbling sounds when the air conditioning runs.
4. Your evaporator coil is icy on account of having difficulty handling heat.

Suspect your system is losing refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service specialist to fix the leak and replenish the proper level of refrigerant in your equipment. Get in touch with us at 336-853-6070 for help.

When it feels like you’re not getting ample amounts of cool air, there’s probably a blockage or disconnection somewhere in your AC system.

• The initial stage is checking your air filter. Get a new one if it’s soiled.
• Then check the vents are open around your rooms.
• If you’re still not experiencing adequate chilled air, you should have your ductwork checked by a specialist like James Heating & A/C, Inc. Your ducts might need to be serviced or rejoined in tricky spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.