Have you ever gone to use your air conditioning, just to realize it will not even turn on? This can be stressful for anyone, especially if the temperature inside your home is uncomfortably warm. At that point, you may be wondering what to do next.
There are multiple reasons why your air conditioning unit may not turn on. Some have an easy at-home fix, while others may require the help of a technician to solve. Regardless of what the reasoning is, the experts at Coastal Home Services have answers for you. Keep reading to find out the most common reasons that would prevent your air conditioning from turning on, and when it is time to call a professional for help.
Common Reasons Outdoor AC Doesn’t Turn On
There are several different reasons why your outdoor air conditioner isn’t turning on. Some of these may have quick fixes that you can handle yourself, while others may require the experience of a professional technician. The following are just a few of the reasons that your air conditioner may not turn on:
The Emergency Shut-Off Switch Flipped
Every air conditioning unit should have a shut-off switch somewhere on the unit. Whether your air conditioning unit was just recently serviced by a professional or someone in your family was checking on it, they may have accidentally flipped the switch without realizing it.
This is an easy fix. All you need to do is switch the flip back to its “on” position and then double check to make sure everything has been plugged in. After you make sure everything is looking right, you can go check that it has started running again.
Blown Fuse
If you have recently experienced a power outage in your home, this can easily cause a power surge. As a result, it may trip a circuit breaker or blow a fuse. Like the emergency shut-off switch, this has an easy fix.
There are a couple different places to check and see if something has gone wrong. To start, you will want to look at the main circuit panel for your home. If there are any switches that were turned to “off,” you can simply switch them back. Luckily, a blown fuse can be replaced!
If the issue is not with the circuit panel itself, check the emergency shut-off switch again, or try a system reset for the unit. This can be done by finding the button that says “reset” on the unit.
Is It Set To Cool?
While it may seem like a no-brainer, but it happens more than you would expect – especially after the air has been set to heat throughout the winter. If your outdoor air conditioner is not turning on, you may want to double check your thermostat. It is possible that it is still set to the heat setting, or may even be off. Switch it over to cool and see if that kicks your air conditioning on.
Check the Condensate Drain Line
Your air conditioning creates condensation over time. This condensation eventually produces algae and other sorts of grime, which builds up. As the grime builds up, it will end up clogging that condensate drain line – which in turn flips the emergency shut-off switch.
You can try to clear the clog by using a wet/dry vacuum, if you feel comfortable. However, if the problem persists even after you clean it out, you may want to consider the option of calling a professional.
When to Call a Technician
Diagnosing an issue yourself when it comes to your air conditioning can feel like a daunting task. After all, sometimes symptoms will overlap, so if you aren’t experienced in servicing air conditioning units you may feel at a loss for answers.
You may feel called to fix the issue with your air conditioning yourself, to save a quick dollar. However, this can actually cause more harm than good! The last thing you want is to accidentally take a small issue with your air conditioner and turn it into a much larger problem. This is why we recommend calling your local HVAC professional when something goes wrong. They can either walk you through exactly what to do, or are able to come out and help you in person. Coastal Home Services in the Morehead City, North Carolina area has been helping residents with their HVAC systems for over 13 years. We have a 24-hour on-call service in case of an emergency as well.
Coastal Home Services Can Help
The summer weather is rapidly approaching, which means that you will want to have a working air conditioner in your home. If you are located near the Morehead City, North Carolina area and have an outdoor air conditioning unit that is not turning on, contact Coastal Home Services! Our certified technicians are available to help diagnose exactly what is going on with your air conditioning unit and help get it back up and running again.
Feel free to contact us using the form below or by giving us a call. Someone will be in touch with you to set up the best time for a technician to come by and check out what is going on with your air conditioning unit.
