AC Repair in Elk River, MN: How to Handle 3 Common Issues

There can be a few reasons why your AC equipment won’t cool: a tripped circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a shut off switch or a full condensate drain pan.

Your cooling won’t work when you have an overloaded breaker.

To determine if one has blown, find your residence’s main electrical panel. You can spot this metallic fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

• Confirm your hands and feet are dry before you check the panel or breakers.
• Locate the breaker identified “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” location. If it’s overloaded the lever will be in the in between or “off” spot.
• Firmly shift the lever back to the “on” location. If it instantly flips again, leave it alone and contact us at 763-276-0617. A breaker that keeps tripping might mean your home has electrical trouble.

If your thermostat isn’t telling your AC to start, it won’t switch on.

The main part is making sure it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning will probably not turn on. Or you might get. hot air blowing from vents since the heat is going instead.

If you rely on a digital thermostat:

• Replace the batteries if the screen is blank. If the readout is showing garbled numbers, replace the thermostat.
• Check the proper program is displaying. If you can’t update it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and pressing the “hold” button. This will cause your AC to run if the configuration is incorrect.
• Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is identical to the space’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is adjusted properly, you should receive cold air quickly.

If you’re using a smart thermostat, like one produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If it still won’t work, call us at 763-276-0617 for help.

Your cooling equipment probably has a shut-off switch near its outside unit. This device is commonly in a metal box attached to your house. If your AC has recently been maintained, the lever may have inadvertently been put in the “off” setting.

Condensate drain pans catch the extra water your system pulls from the air. This pan can be found either under or inside your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a blockage or backed up drain, water can accumulate and initiate a safety setting to turn off your system.

If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the extra condensation with a formulated pan-cleaning tablet. You can buy these capsules at a home improvement or hardware retailer.

If your pan involves a pump, locate the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you may need to install a new pump. Call us at 763-276-0617 for assistance.

If your air conditioner is running but not cooling, its airflow could be obstructed. Or it could not have sufficient refrigerant.

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

A filthy filter can cause countless problems, including:

• Limited airflow
• Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Uneven cooling
• Bigger energy costs
• Making your system break down sooner

We suggest installing new flat filters once a month, and accordion filters every three months.

If you can’t recall when you last installed a new one, shut off your unit fully and remove the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be located in an adjoining filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.

Hold the filter up to the light. If you can’t see any light you should buy a new filter.

Brush, plants and leaves can block your condensing equipment. This could limit its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your unit running properly again.

1. Shut off power totally at the breaker or external switch.
2. Clear greenery waste around the AC. Once you’ve removed all the debris within a two-foot space, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to gingerly remove dirt from the condenser fins. Warped fins can also affect capability, so you can attempt to reshape them with a dinner knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to carefully clean the fins from inside the unit. Don’t get liquid on the fan motor.
4. Put the top back on and turn on the power.

When air conditioning equipment doesn’t have enough refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your space.

Here are a couple of signs that your system is leaking refrigerant:

1. It takes an extended amount of time to lower the temperature in your home and you’re regularly turning down the thermostat.
2. Cooling coming through the vents isn’t as chilly as it should be.
3. You’re hearing whistling or burbling racket when the air conditioning works.
4. Your evaporator coil is iced over due to having trouble absorbing humidity.

Worried your unit is losing refrigerant? You need a qualified heating and cooling service specialist to take care of the leak and replenish the correct measurement of refrigerant in your system. Contact us at 763-276-0617 for assistance.

When it appears like you’re not getting ample amounts of cold air, there’s possibly a clog or separation somewhere in your cooling system.

• The first place is checking your air filter. Get a new one if it’s filthy.
• Then make sure the vents are open throughout your house.
• If you’re still not receiving ample chilly air, you should have your ductwork inspected by a specialist like Home Comfort Heating & Air. Your ducts might need to be serviced or reconnected in limited space spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.