Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Winnipeg, Manitoba, can appear like a lot of hassle.

There’s a better way. There are several quick remedies you can attempt by yourself that might help you get out of an AC service call.

When you’re having air conditioning issues, try this checklist before calling a heating and cooling repair professional like Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our experts are standing by at 204-272-8128 when you need expert service. We have emergency AC repair and work on most brands of central AC equipment.

If you want to get an up to date air conditioner, we also provide AC installation.

When you’re in contact with us, contemplate a yearly AC maintenance plan that may help you keep clear of future malfunctions. We can advise how often you need air conditioner service.

Ready to get started troubleshooting your system? Try our fast tips below. Many of these procedures don’t require any HVAC knowledge.

Air Conditioner Repair Checklist

1. AC Won’t Turn On

There can be several explanations why your air conditioning won’t start: a blown circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.

Overloaded Circuit Breaker

Your AC won’t run when you have an overloaded breaker.

To see if one has blown, go to your house’s main electrical panel. You can spot this metallic device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

  • Ensure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you work on the panel or breakers.
  • Find the breaker identified “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s tripped the breaker will be in the in between or “off” position.
  • Quickly shift the lever back to the “on” position. If it instantly triggers again, don’t touch it and call us at 204-272-8128. A fuse that keeps flipping could signal your house has an electrical issue.

Wrong Thermostat Settings

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

The main point is making sure it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning may not start running. Or you may have. hot air moving from vents because the furnace is going instead.

If you’re using a regular thermostat:

  • Swap out the batteries if the screen is clear. If the readout is presenting scrambled numbers, get a new thermostat.
  • Check the proper option is on the display. If you can’t change it, reverse it by dropping the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if programming is incorrect.
  • Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is set the same as the house’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is set correctly, you should receive cool air promptly.

If you rely on a smart thermostat, like one produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for help. If you still can’t get it to work, call us at 204-272-8128 for help.

Shut-Down Switch

Your system usually has a shut-down switch near its outside unit. This switch is generally in a metal box mounted on your residence. If your AC has recently been maintained, the switch may have inadvertently been left in the “off” location.

Overflowing Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans catch the surplus condensation your air conditioner pulls from the air. This pan can be situated either beneath or in your furnace or air handler.

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

If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the surplus water with a special pan-cleaning tab. You can buy these tablets at a home improvement or hardware store.

If your pan includes a pump, find the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you could need to replace the pump. Reach us at 204-272-8128 for assistance.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your AC is on but not delivering cold air, its airflow might be clogged. Or it could not have adequate refrigerant.

Clogged Airflow

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

How to Change Your Air Filter

A dusty filter can create many problems, such as:

  • Limited airflow
  • Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Inconsistent cooling
  • Higher energy expenses
  • Making your system stop working faster

We recommend changing flat filters monthly, and accordion filters every three months.

If you can’t recall when you last changed yours, switch off your unit fully and remove the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be found in a connected filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.

Tilt the filter up to the light. If you see a lot of dust you certainly should get a new one.

4 Steps to Cleaning Your Air Conditioning System

Brush, grass and leaves can obstruct your condensing unit. This could restrict its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s how you can get your system operating smoothly again.

  1. Switch off power totally at the breaker or outside switch.
  2. Clear vegetation debris around the AC. Once you’ve gotten rid of bigger debris within a two-foot range, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to gingerly clean the unit’s fins. Bent fins can also affect effectiveness, so you can attempt to straighten them with a blunt knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to gingerly remove gunk off the fins from inside the system. Be careful to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
  4. Replace the top and restore the power.

Not Enough Refrigerant

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

Here are several signs that your unit is losing refrigerant:

  1. It takes an extended amount of time to lower the temperature in your space and you’re continually turning down the thermostat.
  2. Air coming through the vents isn’t as chilly as it should be.
  3. You’re experiencing fizzing or gurgling racket when the air conditioning is on.
  4. Your evaporator coil is iced over because it’s having difficulty absorbing humidity.

Suspect your unit is losing refrigerant? You need a qualified heating and cooling service expert to repair the leak and restore the correct measurement of refrigerant in your equipment. Call us at 204-272-8128 for assistance.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it seems like you’re not getting adequate amounts of cool air, there’s likely a blockage or disconnection within your cooling unit.

  • The beginning step is checking your air filter. Get a new one if it’s dusty.
  • Then ensure the registers are open around your home.
  • If you’re still not getting ample chilled air, you should have your ducts examined by a specialist like Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning. Your ductwork could need to be serviced or hooked up again in limited space areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.

Request Pro Air Conditioner Repair Now

When you require air conditioning service quickly, contact the HVAC repair experts at Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning at 204-272-8128. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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