Troubleshooting Your AC

You’ve encountered it a couple of times: multiple frustrated homeowners waiting for an extremely booked professional HVAC contractor to fix their AC in the middle of the summer. We, here at Lancaster PHCE, want to help you get rid of that wait, especially if you can troubleshoot your cooling problem yourself! Today, we will take you through some tips to help you diagnose and repair some of these common AC issues.

Are the settings on your thermostat correct?

If your thermostat settings are not set to “cool” with “fan” on, it won’t start a cooling cycle. Inputting the wrong thermostat settings will not call upon cooled air but rather trigger an inflow of warm air. Additionally, if you have a smart thermostat, with scheduling capabilities, make sure your previously scheduled heating and cooling cycles are not overriding your current cooling attempt. We find this to be a common issue when seasons change. Simply re-set your thermostat scheduling settings, and you should be good to go!

If your thermostat has power, is set to the correct temperature settings, but is still not distributing cool air throughout your home. Your air conditioning issues are not stemming from your thermostat.

Check your Condenser

If your condenser unit keeps turning on and off repeatedly, this is the source of your AC problem. Your condenser is instrumental in discharging heat within your home and your AC system by redirecting it outside. However, as your unit is housed outdoors, its positioning makes it vulnerable to accumulating dirt, pollutants, and soot.

Check your condenser to see if there is dirt interfering with its functions. Remove any debris, leaves, and other compromising elements from your condenser and clean the condenser coils and the evaporator. This should get your system back up and running! If your condenser is still not functioning properly after this, it’s time to contact a professional for AC repairs.

Observe Refrigerant Levels

Low refrigerant levels result in low cooling efficiency. When your AC begins to underperform, this can indicate that you have a refrigerant leak. If you are experiencing adequate airflow, your thermostat is set to your desired cooling temperature, but your air is coming out of your vents luke-warm, a refrigerant leak is likely your cause. You’ll be able to tell if you have any leaks, tears, or breaches in insulation if you hear a hissing or jingling sound emanating from your system. If this is the case, contact your local HVAC technician to repair your leak and restore your refrigerant levels.

For your HVAC services, contact Lancaster Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical at (717) 207-8198! With CDC protocols implemented, we are capable of performing services while keeping both our technicians and our customers safe and healthy. For more information, contact us!