Here are some AC troubleshooting tips to help you identify any issues and get your home cooler faster
By Rusty Sheridan, Service Technician; P.K. Wadsworth Heating & Cooling
"No pleasure, no rapture, no exquisite sin greater…than central air.” —Azrael
In the 1999 satirical comedy Dogma, Jason Lee plays Azrael, a demon from the fiery underworld who travels above and marvels at humans’ ability to cool their living quarters. Anyone who goes into an air-conditioned building in the summer has experienced that same rapture.
Working as a service technician at P.K. Wadsworth Heating & Cooling, I have seen hundreds of HVAC systems of all types. Sometimes they’re running like a top, sometimes not so much. How’s the cooling system in your home? Are you comfortable? If not, here are some AC troubleshooting tips to help you identify any issues and get your home cooler faster:
Is the power/disconnect/circuit breaker on?
This should be the first check if something seems amiss. Check the disconnect switch at the furnace and check your electrical panel for a tripped or off circuit breaker.
Is there water or ice where it shouldn’t be?
Is ice or water around the copper refrigerant lines or the AC coil on top of the furnace/air handler? Is there any water on or around your furnace? What about the black insulation on the refrigerant lines? Ice around the refrigerant lines or melted water around the AC coil atop the furnace indicate the refrigerant is not absorbing enough heat from the hot, humid air in your home this time of year. That heat is removed from your house through the refrigerant. Too much or too little refrigerant can prevent your AC from cooling to its full potential.
Is the air filter soiled? Are supply or return registers covered or blocked?
Without good central airflow in the ducts, hot air gets trapped in your house. Your home’s air must be circulated in through the return and out of the supply ducts. Anything that inhibits airflow is an impediment to the cooling system.
Does the indoor fan turn on a thermostat call for cooling?
On a thermostat call for cooling, both the indoor circulator fan and the outdoor condenser should turn on. If one or both do not cycle on or if they try to start but don’t, then additional diagnostics must be done to isolate the problem(s).
Is the thermostat display lit? Are the batteries leaking acid?
Check for a flashing or illuminated battery or warning light on the thermostat. Are the batteries dead or leaking?
Has home improvement work been done recently? Is any planned?
Have you made any recent changes in your home that could have affected the operation of your system?
Call P.K. Wadsworth Heating & Cooling at 440-368-5564 or visit PKWadsworth.com for more information.