Air Conditioner Not Coming On? What You Need To Know

Posted on: 3 August 2021

With summer temperatures climbing across the country, more people than ever are relying on air conditioning to help combat the heat. Unfortunately, those central air conditioning systems are not immune to problems, and sometimes those problems can lead to an air conditioner that won't even turn on. Here's a look at some of the things you should know if you have an air conditioner that won't kick on despite the summer heat.

Is The Air Filter Clean?

Central air conditioning systems rely on an air filtration process to keep particles and dirt away from the evaporator coil. When the air filter is changed regularly, it maintains adequate airflow through the system. However, if you haven't changed the air filter in a while, it could be clogged with dirt and debris. This will inhibit proper airflow, which may actually lead to an automatic shutdown for safety reasons. If your air conditioner won't turn on, the first thing you should check is the air filter for this reason.

Is There A Power Supply Problem?

Power supply problems are sometimes easy to identify, but some of those issues require the services of an air conditioning repair technician to resolve. First, check the circuit breaker in your house that powers the air conditioning unit. If it's tripped into the middle position, reset it all the way to off, then turn it back on. This should restore power to the air conditioner. If the breaker trips again right away, that's a sign that the air conditioner has an electrical problem that needs to be addressed by an AC repair technician.

If the breaker in the house is fine, it could be the emergency shut-off switch by the air conditioning unit outside. Check the switch to be sure that the unit is powered on. Sometimes, if you've recently had the unit serviced, the technician may have simply forgotten to reset the power switch. Turn it back on to restore power to the air conditioner.

If neither of these things seems to be the cause, you'll need to call an AC repair technician to narrow down the source of the issue and resolve it.

Is The Unit Draining Properly?

Check the condensate drain pan in your air conditioner to make sure that it is draining properly. If the drain pan is full, that's a sign that the drain hose may be clogged, which is preventing the air conditioner from draining the way that it is supposed to. This can trigger a safety shutdown to prevent damage to the unit. An AC repair technician can flush the condensate drain line and restore proper drainage, then reset the safety switch to get your unit functioning properly again.

These are a few of the most common reasons why an air conditioner may not be turning on when it's supposed to. Reach out to an AC repair technician near you today for more help.

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