When Your AC Breaks Down, Learn how to Troubleshoot It

outdoor ac unit on concrete pad

If you’re extremely lucky, you’ll never have to experience your home’s air conditioning system breaking down on a hot day. Most people aren’t extremely lucky, however. That’s why it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the common reasons ACs break down.

The more you know about what might happen, the better equipped you’ll be to troubleshoot your malfunctioning cooling system, and potentially avoid having to call in a professional to handle the situation.

Try some of these do-it-yourself troubleshooting steps to get your AC back in action. (And if they don’t work, don’t hesitate to call in your trusted HVAC technician. The best AC companies can be counted on to dispatch someone immediately so you won’t have to broil in own house for too long.)

Do-It-Yourself AC Fixes

  • If the air conditioner kicks on but then quickly shuts down, and does this repeatedly, it could be a sensor that’s automatically shutting down the equipment to avoid the compressor getting overheated.

One reason this might be happening is a clogged air filter that’s forcing the equipment to work too hard to push air through the system. This results in reduced airflow. Check the filter, and if it’s clogged, replace it with a fresh one.

  • If the AC just won’t turn on, or suddenly shuts down and won’t come on again, look at the main electrical panel in your home. See if the circuit for the HVAC system has been tripped.

Reset it and hope that your system kicks on. If that doesn’t happen, or the AC shuts down again, call in your preferred air conditioning repair company.

  • The simplest troubleshooting step is to check the thermostat. Make sure it’s set to cooling rather than heating. You’ll be surprised how often this simple error happens in a home. Also look at the temperature setting. If the setting is higher than the temperature in the home, your AC shouldn’t turn on anyway.
  • Also, check the thermostat to see if it’s not getting power or is otherwise malfunctioning. If the thermostat is battery-powered, the battery may require replacement.

This is the easiest thing to fix. The thermostat itself may need to be replaced, too, which is relatively inexpensive. Unless you’re fairly handy, you’ll want to call in a professional. For air conditioning service in Cincinnati, make sure you call someone whom you can trust to do the job promptly and dependably.

Lower the Risk of AC Malfunctions

One great way to minimize problems with a residential cooling system is to figure out ways to use it less (in other words, reduce the cooling load in the home). A system that’s not overworked, and which receives regular professional and homeowner maintenance, will have fewer breakdowns than others.

Some effective tips for reducing the workload on your home’s AC include:

  • Use ceiling fans to create a cooling effect. This will allow you to raise the thermostat setting a few degrees without sacrificing comfort. (Turn the fan off when the room is empty.)
  • During the cooling season, shut blinds, drapes, curtains, shutters, etc., to block direct sunlight. This will reduce the temperature in those rooms by several degrees, and delay the moment when the thermostat tells the AC to turn on.
  • On especially hot days, don’t expect your home’s cooling season to bring the interior temperature to an unreasonably low level. Learn to tolerate a warmer temp in your home till the heat spell passes. Better yet, acclimate yourself to a warmer temperature all the time.
  • Turn off lights when possible. Light bulbs produce a small amount of heat.
  • During cool and dry summer nights, turn off the AC and open windows to enjoy the free cooling from outside air. Leave them open until the day starts warming up, then close up the house and turn the AC back on.

This can give you a couple extra hours of AC-free operation in the morning.

Furnace Tune Up

$129 System Tune Up

Maintenance Club Members
Save $30

SCHEDULE NOW

Cool Cash Savings

Save up to $2100

With Purchase of a
Qualifying System

Schedule A Quote

Plus Special Financing

0% Up to 60 Months

Subject to credit approval.
See dealer for details.

Schedule a Quote