AC not working? AC not turning on at all? Blowing Hot?
AC not turning on check these 5 steps
Check these 5 steps and if its blowing hot air we have listed the top 10 reason why below
1. Check the Thermostat for proper settings
The first thing to check is to make sure your thermostat is on the proper setting, put it mode “cool".
Then try turning the fan to “on” on the thermostat, then head over to the shortest supply grill and see if you start to feel any air blowing at all.
If you do then you know the inside blower motor is working, if there is still no air then turn the thermostat off and fan to “Auto” and proceed to step 2.
If there is no air blowing it could be a few things that may be happening.
Communication issues either at the thermostat or the circuit board.
Electrical issue where the signal is not being sent to turn on the blower motor
The capacitor for the blower motor if any may have failed
The blower motor is failing and not tuning on (this is common as systems get older)
2. Reset your breakers
If there was a power outage in the area and your HVAC system stopped working, then it is best to reset your breakers first. Sometimes even though they are not tripped, we have to rest them and HVAC systems come back on. When resetting your breakers, it is a common misconception that only the AC breaker matters, but that is not true. You have another equally important breaker called your “furnace” breaker which gives power to your air handler or furnace located in the attic or a closet.
Head over to your breaker panel and look for breakers that say “A/C or Air conditioner” and the other one should say “Furnace”.
Flip them both off, wait 30 seconds, and flip them on.
Then head over to your thermostat and turn it on to check if that fixed it.
3. How to restart your AC
If it's still not working then after resetting your breakers go ahead and turn the thermostat off so the unit stays off and cools down in case it overheated and locked out. Wait for 30 minutes to an hour and then turn your thermostat to cool and lower it to the desired temperature. Keep the fan on “Auto”. Congrats you just did a complete reset on the AC system. Now if it does come on then great there may not be major issues but it is still recommended to have a professional HVAC technician come out and do an inspection on your system. This way if it is something small you can catch it before it turns into a bigger one. Just a side note, you should not have to do this type of reset every time, if you do then there is an issue and it may turn into a larger one the longer you delay the main problem.
Turn off the thermostat
Put fan mode to “auto”
Wait for an hour before turning it back on
4. Still not turning on?
If still not working then the next steps would be to check the high voltage (making sure the system is receiving the proper power needed), check the circuit board for proper operations ( the circuit board is what controls what turns on ), check the capacitor (this rated my MFD and acts like a battery for the system storing energy and if that energy runs out then the system can not start), check refrigerant pressures (if it's low it may have locked out on safety) and check for burnt or loose wires.
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5. Time to call a professional?
If you have followed the tips above and it's still not working then you have done more than your fair share and the longer you wait the hotter the house becomes. When in doubt we recommend turning “off” the thermostat and calling your trusted HVAC professional to diagnose the exact issue and repair your AC.
If you are in the Houston area then call (832)-777-3897 Zeds Air Conditioning & Heating
AC not blowing cold air: Top 10 reasons why
(1) Dirty condenser coil
A dirty condenser coil does not let the system operate to its full capacity and it causes the high pressures to go up and stress out the unit.
If left as is this will lead to more major problems such as fan motor, compressor, and failed capacitor pre-maturely.
If you go to your outside unit and see that it's dirty then it's time to call a professional to do proper maintenance and check for proper operations.
(2) Leaking refrigerant or low on freon
If you see that your condenser is clean and the outside unit is running like it usually does. Then it can be a refrigerant problem. A unit low on freon will cause the system to run all day and not cool. Humidity levels in your home will also rise.
If you suspect that this may be the issue then call a professional as soon as possible before all the refrigerant leaks it.
You can call the professional at Zeds Air at 832-777-3897. Proudly serving Houston and surrounding areas.
(3) Dirty filter
Dirty filters will cause several issues with the system including the ac not blowing cold air.
Depending on the filters you have they should generally change them around 3 months. If you have replaced it recently then also ask if there has been any construction work around the house as this will get the filters dirty much quicker and
will clog up the filters.
In either situation, it is best to replace your filters if your AC is not blowing cold air, and then give it an hour and see if the temperature on the thermostat has changed. If it drops at least 1 degree then great! You fixed it.
If after an hour the air coming out is not colder than it was before then it is best to a call professional.
(4) Failed capacitor
Capacitors fail often on air conditioning units. They tend to go out on the hottest days as that is when the most energy is needed to start up the system. The capacitor gives starting energy to the fan motor and compressor.
When the capacitor fails the outside unit is not working properly so the coolant is not circulating properly, and this will result in your AC blowing hot air.
(5) Thermostat failure
Is your thermostat old or have you recently just replaced it. If yes then this may be your issue.
Your thermostat is what sends the signal for the unit to turn on. It has to be set up properly to match the type of system you have.
If the thermostat is just old then just like everything its may have failed and that may be your problem. You can replace the thermostat yourself but be careful with electricity and low voltage shortages.
(6) Contactor Failure
A contactor is what lets the outside unit turn on. It acts like a bridge that opens and closes letting voltage pass through so your fan motor and compressor turn on, and the contractor can become damaged by small rodents or just due to wear
and tear over time. If your connector is malfunctioning then it can cause the outside unit called your condenser not to turn on properly. This will cause your home to become hot and humid.
(7) Condenser Fan Motor
The condenser fan motor is located on your outside unit. It's on top and spinning. The fan motor puts out warm to hot air which is a good sign. How to know if your condenser fan motor is bad? Well, the first thing to check would be the capacitor, high and low voltage, and contactor, if all those are doing their job and the fan motor is simply not turning on then it's bad.
If you hear your compressor on but the fan motor is not spinning then you need to turn off your unit. A condenser fan
motor not working can lead to other major issues like a compressor overheating. It is best to turn off your unit when in doubt and wait for a professional.
Failed indoor fan motor or blower motor
This blower motor is what circulates the air in your home and is located in your indoor unit. This can commonly fail due to dirty filters or power surges. Try replacing your filters and turning the fan to the “On” position and see if you feel any air blowing from vents, if so then the blower motor is running. If you do not feel any air, then the first thing to check would be the
capacitor, incoming voltages, wiring connections, and circuit board. If those components are doing their job and the
indoor blower is not coming on then it's failed. If left as is it can lead to other issues such as ice on the copper lines. It is
best to turn off your unit when in doubt and wait for a professional.
(8) Faulty compressor
The compressor is what pumps and pressurizes the refrigerant to keep it circulating in the system. It is a major component of your HVAC system and is like an engine to a car. Compressors don’t fail often and if they do it's likely due to another reason that caused it to fail.
(9) High and Low voltage wirings
Your high voltage to coming from the breaker panel. The low voltage is the wire the unit uses to communicate between the thermostat, indoor unit furnace or air handler, and outdoor unit condenser. If there is a bad wire and the wire is cut the voltage will not be transferred properly and cause the system not to turn on.
(10) What does the water in the AC drain pan mean? The AC drain line is clogged
Is your Pipe dripping water outside of your home? If so there may be water on your drain pan and if you have a safety switch that may have tripped and stopped the unit.
If you see water dripping out of a pipe sticking outside of your home, then there is an issue with the primary drain line possibly being clogged and the water is going out of the home as the secondary/emergency drain line. This should be taken care of asap as the A/C drain pan can overflow onto your ceiling and cause sheetrock damage. We highly recommend replacing your filters and calling a professional.
Zeds Air Conditioning & Heating is the highest rated HVAC Contractor in the Houston area, here is the service areas.
Call or text at (832)-777-3897
