Why Won’t My Air Conditioner Turn On?
One of our most frequent calls during the height of summer is, ‘Help, my air conditioner won’t turn on!’ When outside temperatures are nearing ninety degrees, you want to make sure that your HVAC equipment is in tip-top shape. You don’t want your family to have to endure the sweltering, unbearable misery of being stuck inside without working AC. So, if you’ve flipped your unit on for the first time this summer and your AC is still not working, what’s the deal? And, more importantly, what should you do?
1. Double check your thermostat
Before you put a lot of time – or money – into the problem, make sure your thermostat is set properly. Is it set to cool? Is it set to a reasonable temperature? One of the most common reasons an air conditioner won’t turn on is that… it’s simply not set to turn on. So, before panic sets in, take a close look at your thermostat’s settings and make adjustments, if necessary.
2. Take a look at your air filter
Depending on your home’s conditions – pets, smokers, occupants – you should be changing your air filter at least once every sixty days. If you’ve gone too long, it’s possible that air isn’t properly circulating through your equipment. This, in turn, can cause your equipment to freeze. If your filter is old, inspect your AC unit for ice buildup and, if needed, replace the filter and wait for it to thaw.
3. Hit the reset button
If you own a computer, you’ve probably heard that a lot of problems can be solved by turning it off and on again. Well, that can occasionally work with your air conditioner, as well. And, while not all units have reset buttons, you can easily reset an AC unit by turning your thermostat off for a while, then turning it back on. While it’s unlikely that this will solve any actual problems, sometimes a quick reset is enough to jolt a nonfunctional unit into working.
Oh no! My air conditioner still won’t turn on!
If your air conditioner won’t turn on after these basic steps, you may need to call a professional. At Fleetwood’s Heating & Cooling, we have experienced technicians on staff who can walk you through diagnosing, identifying, and correcting all of your HVAC problems. So, if you’re still not able to get your AC running, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!