AC Repair in Laurel, MD: How to Handle 3 Typical Troubles

There can be a few reasons why your AC equipment won’t start: a tripped circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.

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

To check if one has tripped, go to your residence’s main electrical panel. You can locate this silver device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

• Confirm your hands and feet are free of moisture before you touch the panel or breakers.
• Look for the breaker labeled “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s tripped the breaker will be in the middle or “off” position.
• Firmly move the breaker back to the “on” location. If it instantaneously flips again, don’t reset it and contact us at 301-960-3247. A switch that keeps turning off could indicate your house has electrical trouble.

If your thermostat isn’t signaling your system to work, it won’t turn on.

The key point is checking it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner may not start running. Or you may get. heated air blowing from vents being the heat is on instead.

If you’re using a regular thermostat:

• Put in new batteries if the readout is empty. If the readout is showing scrambled letters, replace the thermostat.
• Make sure the proper option is displaying. If you can’t update it, cancel it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if the configuration is not right.
• Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is identical to the house’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is adjusted accurately, you should receive refreshing air quickly.

If you have a smart thermostat, like one produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you still can’t get it to work, call us at 301-960-3247 for assistance.

Your system typically has a power-cutting switch by its outside unit. This lever is generally in a metal box mounted on your residence. If your equipment has recently been tuned up, the device may have accidentally been left in the “off” setting.

Condensate drain pans keep the extra water your system pulls from the air. This pan can be positioned either beneath or within your furnace or air handler.

When there’s an obstruction or backed up drain, water can accumulate and prompt a safety control to switch off your unit.

If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the surplus liquid with a custom pan-cleaning tab. You can get these tabs at a home improvement or hardware shop.

If your pan includes a pump, find the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you might have to replace the pump. Contact us at 301-960-3247 for help.

If your equipment is on but not cooling, its airflow might be blocked. Or it might not have adequate refrigerant.

Your system’s airflow can be decreased by a blocked air filter or filthy condenser.

A filthy filter can create a lot of issues, like:

• Limited cooling
• Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Inconsistent cooling
• Bigger cooling costs
• Causing your system to break down faster

We propose changing flat filters monthly, and creased filters every three months.

If you can’t remember when you last replaced yours, shut off your AC fully and take out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be located in a connected filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.

Angle the filter up to the light. If you see a lot of dust you should replace it.

Brush, vegetation and leaves can get in the way of your condensing system. This may restrict its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s how you can get your system operating well again.

1. Shut off the electrical current completely at the breaker or outside lever.
2. Remove vegetation rubbish around the air conditioner. Once you’ve removed larger clutter within a two-foot area, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to gingerly clean the condenser fins. Bent fins can also affect efficiency, so you can attempt to straighten them with a blunt knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to slowly take off dirt on the fins from inside the unit. Be careful to avoid getting liquid on the fan motor.
4. Replace the top and turn on the power.

When AC units don’t have enough refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from the air.

Here are several indications that your equipment is seeping refrigerant:

1. It takes too long to refresh your residence and you’re regularly turning down the thermostat.
2. Air conditioning coming through the registers isn’t as chilled as it should be.
3. You’re experiencing fizzing or burbling sounds when the air conditioning works.
4. Your evaporator coil is frosty due to having an issue handling warmth.

Suspect your unit is losing refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service professional to repair the leak and replenish the proper measurement of refrigerant in your equipment. Call us at 301-960-3247 for assistance.

When it feels like you’re not having adequate amounts of cool air, there’s potentially a blockage or separation somewhere in your AC system.

• The initial step is examining your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s soiled.
• Then ensure the vents are free across your house.
• If you’re still not getting sufficient cold air, you should have your ductwork checked by a specialist like H&C Heating and Cooling. Your ducts could need to be fixed or rejoined in limited space areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.