AC Repair in Lake Worth, FL: How to Repair 3 Typical Problems

There can be a few reasons why your air conditioner won’t start: a blown circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.

Your AC won’t work when you have an overloaded breaker.

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

• Confirm your hands and feet are dry before you touch the panel or breakers.
• Find the breaker identified “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” position. If it’s tripped the breaker will be in the middle of the panel or “off” position.
• Firmly move the lever back to the “on” position. If it instantaneously trips again, don’t reset it and call us at 561-533-6066. A switch that keeps tripping might mean your home has an electrical issue.

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

The first step is checking it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning may not switch on. Or you may receive. warm air blowing from vents because the furnace is on instead.

If you have a traditional thermostat:

• Swap out the batteries if the screen is empty. If the readout is presenting garbled numbers, get a new thermostat.
• Ensure the proper option is on the display. If you can’t change it, override it by lowering the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if the configuration is wrong.
• Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat matches the room’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is set properly, you should start getting cold air promptly.

If you’re using a smart thermostat, such as one produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If it still won’t work, contact us at 561-533-6066 for help.

Your AC usually has a shut-off lever around its condenser. This lever is commonly in a metal box hung on your residence. If your equipment has recently been tuned up, the lever may have inadvertently been left in the “off” position.

Condensate drain pans catch the additional liquid your air conditioner pulls from the air. This pan can be positioned either beneath or in your furnace or air handler.

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

If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the surplus liquid with a special pan-cleaning tab. You can buy these tabs at a home improvement or hardware retailer.

If your pan includes a pump, find the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you could need to replace the pump. Call us at 561-533-6066 for help.

If your AC is going but not cooling, its airflow might be congested. Or it may not have enough refrigerant.

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

A dusty filter can create a lot of troubles, like:

• Lower airflow
• Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Inconsistent cooling
• Larger energy bills
• Making your system break down faster

We propose changing flat filters monthly, and pleated filters every three months.

If you aren’t sure when you last replaced yours, turn off your AC fully and pull out the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be located in an adjoining filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.

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

Weeds, plants and sticks can obstruct your condensing equipment. This could limit its airflow, make it less energy efficient and change your comfort. Here’s how you can get your unit working properly again.

1. Shut off power fully at the breaker or outside device.
2. Remove plant debris around the AC. Once you’ve gotten rid of all the refuse within a two-foot radius, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to slowly clean the unit’s fins. Distorted fins can also affect performance, so you can attempt to adjust them with a dinner knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to gingerly clean the fins from inside the equipment. Make sure to avoid getting liquid on the fan motor.
4. Install the top again and turn on the power.

When cooling equipment doesn’t have enough refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from the air.

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

1. It takes too long to cool your home and you’re continually lowering the thermostat.
2. Cooling moving through the registers isn’t as cold as it should be.
3. You’re noticing whistling or gurgling noises when the air conditioning works.
4. Your evaporator coil is iced over due to having an issue handling warmth.

Worried your equipment is leaking refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service professional to take care of the leak and replenish the correct level of refrigerant in your equipment. Contact us at 561-533-6066 for help.

When it seems like you’re not getting adequate amounts of cold air, there’s probably an obstruction or detachment somewhere in your cooling unit.

• The first step is looking at your air filter. Replace it if it’s filthy.
• Then make sure the ductwork is open throughout your house.
• If you’re still not experiencing adequate chilled air, you should have your ducts inspected by a professional like Smyth Air Conditioning. Your duct system may need to be repaired or relinked in hard-to-reach spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.