AC Repair in Jefferson City, MO: How to Fix 3 Typical Issues

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

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

To find out if one has gotten overloaded, find your residence’s main electrical panel. You can spot this metallic device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

• Ensure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you work on the panel or breakers.
• Locate the breaker labeled “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s overloaded the switch will be in the middle of the panel or “off” spot.
• Quickly shift the switch back to the “on” position. If it instantly triggers again, don’t touch it and get in touch with us at 573-635-3547. A fuse that keeps tripping may mean your home has an electrical problem.

If your thermostat isn’t signaling your equipment to run, it won’t activate.

The most important point is making sure it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner will probably not start running. Or you might have. hot air moving from vents since the heat is going instead.

If you rely on a regular thermostat:

• Put in new batteries if the screen is blank. If the monitor is displaying jumbled characters, get a new thermostat.
• Ensure the correct setting is showing. If you can’t change it, cancel it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if scheduling is wrong.
• Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat is set the same as the room’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is set correctly, you should begin getting cool air quickly.

If you’re using a smart thermostat, such as one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If it still won’t work, reach us at 573-635-3547 for assistance.

Your cooling equipment probably has a shut-down lever around its outdoor unit. This lever is generally in a metal box attached to your house. If your AC has recently been repaired, the switch may have inadvertently been placed in the “off” location.

Condensate drain pans catch the surplus condensation your system pulls from the air. This pan can be positioned either under or in your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a blockage or blocked drain, water can become concentrated and prompt a safety feature to turn off your air conditioner.

If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the additional liquid with a special pan-cleaning capsule. You can buy these capsules at a home improvement or hardware store.

If your pan involves a pump, look for the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you might have to get a new pump. Call us at 573-635-3547 for help.

If your AC is running but not cooling, its airflow could be clogged. Or it could not have adequate refrigerant.

Your equipment’s airflow can be decreased by a plugged air filter or dusty condenser.

A filthy filter can lead to a lot of troubles, like:

• Lower comfort
• Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Inconsistent cooling
• Larger energy expenses
• Causing your system to break down sooner

We suggest replacing flat filters every four weeks, and creased filters every three months.

If you can’t recall when you last replaced yours, turn off your system fully and take out the filter. You can spot 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.

Hold the filter up to the sunshine. If you see a lot of dust you need to buy a new filter.

Brush, grass and shrubbery can obstruct your condensing equipment. This could limit its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your unit operating properly again.

1. Turn off power completely at the breaker or external switch.
2. Clear plant debris around the equipment. Once you’ve removed larger debris within a two-foot radius, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to slowly remove dust from the equipment’s fins. Warped fins can also hurt effectiveness, so you can attempt to straighten them with a blunt knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to carefully take off dirt on the fins from inside the unit. Don’t get moisture on the fan motor.
4. Install the top again and restore the power.

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

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

1. It takes too long to cool your home and you’re regularly lowering the thermostat.
2. Air coming through the registers isn’t as cold as it should be.
3. You’re noticing fizzing or gurgling racket when the air conditioning works.
4. Your evaporator coil is frozen on account of having difficulty absorbing heat.

Think your equipment is seeping refrigerant? You need a qualified heating and cooling service specialist to take care of the leak and restore the proper amount of refrigerant in your equipment. Call us at 573-635-3547 for support.

When it seems like you’re not having adequate amounts of chilled air, there’s usually an obstruction or disconnection inside your cooling equipment.

• The initial step is checking your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s filthy.
• Then check the registers are clear throughout your residence.
• If you’re still not getting adequate cold air, you should have your ducts inspected by a specialist like Stieferman Heating Company Inc. Your ductwork could need to be repaired or relinked in tricky spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.