AC Repair in West Columbia, SC: How to Handle 3 Typical Issues

There can be several causes why your air conditioning won’t cool: a blown circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a shut off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.

Your air conditioning won’t start when you have a tripped breaker.

To determine if one has gotten overloaded, go to your house’s main electrical panel. You can spot this silver box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

• Ensure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you check the panel or breakers.
• Find the breaker marked “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” position. If it’s overloaded the lever will be in the middle or “off” spot.
• Quickly shift the lever back to the “on” location. If it immediately flips again, don’t touch it and get in touch with us at 803-265-4208. A breaker that keeps flipping could mean your residence has an electrical problem.

If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your system to start, it won’t turn on.

The most important step is ensuring it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC might not turn on. Or you might receive. warm air blowing from vents being the heat is running instead.

If you’re using a digital thermostat:

• Swap out the batteries if the readout is blank. If the screen is showing jumbled characters, buy a new thermostat.
• Ensure the proper setting is showing. If you can’t alter it, cancel it by decreasing the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if programming is wrong.
• Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is set the same as the house’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is adjusted correctly, you should receive cold air promptly.

If you have a smart thermostat, including ones made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If it still won’t work, contact us at 803-265-4208 for help.

Your air conditioner typically has a power-cutting lever by its outside unit. This switch is commonly in a metal box mounted on your home. If your air conditioner has recently been repaired, the switch may have unintentionally been positioned in the “off” location.

Condensate drain pans keep the additional liquid your system pulls from the air. This pan is located either below or within your furnace or air handler.

When there’s an obstruction or clogged drain, water can build up and initiate a safety control to turn off your air conditioner.

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

If your pan has a pump, find the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you may need to install a new pump. Call us at 803-265-4208 for support.

If your AC is running but not providing cold air, its airflow might be clogged. Or it might not have enough refrigerant.

Your equipment’s airflow can be reduced by a blocked air filter or dusty condenser.

A dirty filter can create many troubles, like:

• Limited cooling
• Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Uneven cooling
• Larger cooling costs
• Leading your system to stop working more quickly

We suggest replacing flat filters monthly, and pleated filters every three months.

If you aren’t sure when you last replaced yours, shut off your system totally and remove the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be situated in an attached filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.

Angle the filter up to your light fixture. If you see a lot of dust you need to get a new one.

Greenery, plants and bushes can get in the way of your condensing equipment. This may limit its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your unit working well again.

1. Turn off the electrical current fully at the breaker or outside lever.
2. Get rid of greenery waste around the equipment. Once you’ve gotten rid of bigger clutter within a two-foot space, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dirt from the condenser fins. Bent fins can also hurt capability, so you can attempt to correct them with a blunt knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to gingerly take off dirt on the fins from inside the unit. Be careful to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
4. Replace the top and restore the power.

When cooling equipment doesn’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your house.

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

1. It takes a long time to refresh your rooms and you’re continually lowering the thermostat.
2. Air conditioning coming through the vents isn’t as chilled as it should be.
3. You’re experiencing whistling or burbling noises when cooling works.
4. Your evaporator coil is frosty due to having difficulty taking on humidity.

Think your system is seeping refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service specialist to fix the leak and replenish the proper measurement of refrigerant in your unit. Reach us at 803-265-4208 for assistance.

When it seems like you’re not receiving adequate amounts of chilled air, there’s possibly a blockage or detachment somewhere in your cooling system.

• The beginning step is looking at your air filter. Replace it if it’s dusty.
• Then check the registers are clear across your residence.
• If you’re still not getting enough cold air, you should have your ductwork checked by a professional like Tri City Fuel & Heating. Your duct system could need to be fixed or rejoined in tricky locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.