The last thing that a sane individual would want when summer temperatures are rapidly rising is a not-working AC. Most people will panic under such situations and rush to schedule a service call with a repair service provider. But that is easier said than done. Unless you have a maintenance contract for your unit, it will take a considerable time before they reach your doorstep. These companies get a torrent of calls in such seasons and it becomes difficult for them to reach out each client promptly. However, before repair service reaches your house here are a few things that you can do to solve the issue without calling a technician. Believe it or not it works most of the times.

Is the thermostat set at the right temperature?

Begin by checking if your AC unit is plugged to a working power panel. Check the power panel for blown fuse. Thereafter check the thermostat. See if it is set too high in heating mode instead of being in cooling mode. In that case set it 5 degrees below the room temperature. If you think that the thermostat is not working, then confirm it by turning the A/C on from the main unit. If the unit turns on, then the thermostat is faulty.

Are the filters dirty?

Remove the vent of return duct. It is where the air from the room is sucked in by your central unit for cooling. Access the filter. See, if it is too dirty. Replace or clean it. Changing the filter once a month is very important. A dirty filter restricts airflow as result a marginal volume of air is able to reach the evaporator coil for cooling. Consequently very little air comes out to cool your rooms. Too low airflow can also cause a low-pressure switch to trip and shut down your AC’s compressor. This happens to prevent a major damage.

Has any circuit breaker tripped?

Look for tripped breakers in the units wherever there is a possibility. Turn the tripped breaker to the “off” position. Now turn the breaker “on”. If the breaker trips again, then call a professional for help. Most of the time tripped breakers are due to a short circuit or a grounded circuit. In some cases you may require to replace the circuit breaker as it has worn out with time after multiple trips.

Is the condensate drain clean?

The condensate drain is located outside the house. It is usually a PVC pipe that has a cross-section of 3 inches. Now take a vacuum cleaner and connect it to the condensate hose and turn it on to suck out any obstruction. In most cases, these drains get clogged due to algae. When you power on the AC condensation forms on the evaporator coils, where the hot air gets cooled. This condensate water needs to be vented out of the house. If the water is unable to move, it starts dripping. Cases of HVAC fires have been reported that were caused due to dripping water. However today you have units with drain float switch that will shut down your AC if the condensate water rises above the danger limit to overflow.

Sometimes there is icy build-up around the condenser coil.In such a case the AC will not turn on or cool the air comfortably. You should let the unit be thawed to get it back to normalcy. Faulty motor is another cause of not running AC. You will need professional intervention to decide whether a repair will do or the motor needs to be replaced. Malfunctioning or dead compressor is a reason for not working AC. It is very important to keep this component clean to ensure a functional and efficient unit. Dirty evaporator and dirty condensers can also result in not-working ACs. Keep these clean by cleaning the portions accessible to you on regular intervals. Have a maintenance contract for you unit to get technicians clean and tune-up the various components. If there is a shortage of refrigerant, the AC will neither turn on or nor cool effectively. Get your AC charged with Freon whenever required.