Easy Central Air-Conditioner Troubleshooting Tips

While advanced central air-conditioner repair requires the training and expertise of a technician, there are a few simple problems that any homeowner can try to solve. Here is a guide for troubleshooting three common central air-conditioner problems.

Air Conditioner Won't Turn On

If your air conditioner won't turn on at all, this doesn't always indicate a serious problem. The most common culprit behind an air conditioner that fails to turn on is an interruption in the air conditioner's circuit. You should check that the air-conditioner breaker in your home's main breaker box, the power switch on the outdoor condenser, and the double breaker in the metal box near the condenser are all turned on.

The next place you should look after checking for an electrical disconnect is the thermostat. If the thermostat has malfunctioned, your air conditioner will not receive the signal to turn on even if it is getting power. Turn the air conditioner breaker off, remove the front faceplate of the thermostat, and use the wire test to determine whether the thermostat has malfunctioned.

Uneven Cooling

If your central air conditioner is working properly, every room with vents in your home should be approximately the same temperature. Blockages and leaks in your ductwork can prevent air from flowing evenly to all parts of your home, causing some rooms to feel warmer than others.

After you have made sure that all of your vent registers are open, you can attempt to remedy uneven cooling by cleaning the registers and as much of your ductwork as you can reach. Use a vacuum hose to remove dust from your registers, and run the hose as far as you can into the ductwork behind the registers. If this does not solve the problem, you may want to consider a professional duct inspection to patch leaks and remove blockages in the ductwork inside of your home's walls.

Air Conditioner Not Producing Cool Air

Your central AC system has evaporator coils above the furnace and blower that are responsible for cooling the air that is blown into your home. If the coils are dirty, they will not be able to cool the air properly. You can turn off the air-conditioner breaker and remove the side panel of the furnace to access and clean the evaporator coils.

You will see the evaporator coils installed in an "A" shape above the furnace blower. If the coils appear dusty or corroded, you should clean them using a commercial foaming coil cleaner. Spray the cleaner onto the coils, taking special care to cover areas that are heavily coated in corrosion. The cleaner will liquify and run off into the drain pan below the coils, taking all of the dust and corrosion with it.

Keep these tips in mind so you can troubleshoot and repair simple central air-conditioner problems that may not require the service of a professional technician. For help or bigger problems, call a company such as Kassel Appliance & AC Repair.