AC Repair in Cedar Rapids, IA: How to Handle 3 Frequent Issues

There can be a couple of reasons why your air conditioning won’t work: a triggered circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a turned off switch or a full condensate drain pan.

Your air conditioner won’t start when you have a blown breaker.

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

• Ensure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you check the panel or breakers.
• Locate the breaker identified “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s overloaded the switch will be in the middle or “off” spot.
• Steadily transfer the lever back to the “on” location. If it instantly trips again, leave it alone and get in touch with us at 319-208-2351. A breaker that keeps turning off might mean your residence has an electrical issue.

If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your air conditioner to work, it won’t switch on.

The main part is ensuring it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner might not switch on. Or you might have. hot air coming from vents since the heat is going instead.

If you’re using a traditional thermostat:

• Replace the batteries if the screen is empty. If the readout is showing jumbled numbers, buy a new thermostat.
• Ensure the correct setting is showing. If you can’t alter it, cancel it by lowering the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if programming is wrong.
• Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is set the same as the space’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is adjusted properly, you should begin getting chilled air promptly.

If you’re using a smart thermostat, such as one produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for help. If you’re still having problems, reach us at 319-208-2351 for help.

Your air conditioner typically has a power-cutting device around its outside unit. This device is generally in a metal box hung on your home. If your unit has recently been fixed, the switch may have inadvertently been positioned in the “off” position.

Condensate drain pans hold the extra liquid your system removes from the air. This pan can be found either beneath or within your furnace or air handler.

When there’s an obstruction or blocked drain, water can become concentrated and trigger a safety setting to turn off your air conditioner.

If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the additional water with a custom pan-cleaning capsule. You can purchase these tablets at a home improvement or hardware shop.

If your pan includes a pump, find the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you might have to replace the pump. Call us at 319-208-2351 for support.

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

Your system’s airflow can be restricted by a clogged air filter or filthy condenser.

A dirty filter can create many issues, such as:

• Reduced comfort
• Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Uneven cooling
• Larger energy expenses
• Causing your system to wear out more quickly

We suggest changing flat filters once a month, and accordion filters every three months.

If you can’t recall when you last changed yours, shut off your system fully and remove the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be situated in an attached filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.

Tilt the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see through it you need to replace it.

Greenery, grass and shrubbery can get in the way of your condensing system. This can limit its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s how you can get your system running well again.

1. Turn off the electrical current fully at the breaker or external lever.
2. Remove vegetation debris around the air conditioner. Once you’ve cleared bigger clutter within a two-foot space, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to slowly remove dust from the equipment’s fins. Kinked fins can also hurt effectiveness, so you can attempt to straighten them with a dinner knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to gingerly take off dirt on the fins from inside the equipment. Make sure to avoid getting water on the fan motor.
4. Install the top again and restore the power.

When cooling equipment doesn’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your rooms.

Here are a couple of indications that your system is seeping refrigerant:

1. It takes too long to cool your rooms and you’re constantly lowering the thermostat.
2. Cooling coming through the ducts isn’t as chilled as it should be.
3. You’re noticing whistling or bubbling racket when cooling works.
4. Your evaporator coil is frozen because it’s having difficulty absorbing humidity.

Think your unit is seeping refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service professional to repair the leak and refill the proper level of refrigerant in your unit. Call us at 319-208-2351 for help.

When it feels like you’re not receiving adequate amounts of cool air, there’s possibly a blockage or detachment inside your air conditioning system.

• The initial step is looking at your air filter. Replace it if it’s filthy.
• Then ensure the vents are free throughout your residence.
• If you’re still not experiencing sufficient chilled air, you should have your duct system inspected by a professional like Ilten's. Your ducts might need to be fixed or reconnected in tricky areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.