AC Repair in Carson City, NV: How to Repair 3 Frequent Problems

There can be a few causes 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.

Your cooling won’t start when you have a tripped breaker.

To find out if one has tripped, locate your house’s main electrical panel. You can spot this gray box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

• Ensure your hands and feet are dry before you check the panel or breakers.
• Find the breaker marked “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s triggered the switch will be in the middle of the panel or “off” spot.
• Firmly shift the lever back to the “on” spot. If it immediately triggers again, leave it alone and contact us at 775-854-9700. A fuse that keeps turning off might indicate your house has an electrical problem.

If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your equipment to work, it won’t activate.

The key point is making sure it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC will probably not turn on. Or you might have. heated air blowing from vents being the furnace is running instead.

If you rely on a digital thermostat:

• Swap out the batteries if the monitor is clear. If the monitor is showing jumbled numbers, buy a new thermostat.
• Ensure the correct option is on the display. If you can’t update it, reverse it by lowering the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if scheduling is incorrect.
• Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is set the same as the house’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is calibrated properly, you should begin getting cool air promptly.

If you have a smart thermostat, like one produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you still can’t get it to work, call us at 775-854-9700 for support.

Your AC typically has a power-cutting device near its outdoor unit. This lever is commonly in a metal box mounted on your residence. If your AC has recently been worked on, the lever may have inadvertently been placed in the “off” location.

Condensate drain pans catch the extra water your AC pulls from the air. This pan can be found either beneath or within your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a blockage or clogged drain, water can accumulate and trigger a safety feature to switch off your unit.

If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the additional condensation with a special pan-cleaning tablet. You can buy these tabs at a home improvement or hardware retailer.

If your pan involves a pump, locate the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you might have to replace the pump. Reach us at 775-854-9700 for help.

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

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

A filthy filter can lead to a lot of issues, such as:

• Lower comfort
• Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Inconsistent cooling
• Higher utility costs
• Leading your system to wear out sooner

We recommend replacing flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.

If you can’t remember when you last installed a new one, turn off your equipment totally and pull out the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be situated in a connected filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.

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

Weeds, vegetation and sticks can get in the way of your condensing unit. This could reduce its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your equipment running well again.

1. Turn off the electrical current fully at the breaker or outdoor switch.
2. Remove greenery waste around the air conditioner. Once you’ve gotten rid of larger clutter within a two-foot radius, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to carefully clean the equipment’s fins. Crooked fins can also impact performance, so you can attempt to correct them with a small knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to gingerly take off dirt on the fins from inside the unit. Make sure to avoid getting water on the fan motor.
4. Replace the top and turn the power back on.

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

Here are several flags that your equipment is seeping refrigerant:

1. It takes an extended amount of time to lower the temperature in your residence and you’re continually lowering the thermostat.
2. Air conditioning coming through the registers isn’t as chilled as it should be.
3. You’re noticing fizzing or bubbling noises when cooling is on.
4. Your evaporator coil is icy due to having difficulty absorbing heat.

Suspect your unit is leaking refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service professional to take care of the leak and replenish the right level of refrigerant in your unit. Reach us at 775-854-9700 for support.

When it seems like you’re not having enough chilled air, there’s possibly a blockage or detachment within your AC system.

• The initial place is looking at your air filter. Get a new one if it’s filthy.
• Then ensure the registers are free throughout your house.
• If you’re still not experiencing ample chilly air, you should have your ductwork examined by a specialist like Anderson Heating & A/C. Your duct system may need to be fixed or relinked in tricky areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.