AC Repair in Crystal and Twin Cities, MN: How to Handle 3 Common Troubles

There can be a few reasons why your central AC system won’t run: an overloaded circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.

Your air conditioning won’t run when you have an overloaded breaker.

To see if one has tripped, locate your house’s main electrical panel. You can find this metallic fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

• Ensure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you touch the panel or breakers.
• Find the breaker marked “AC” and ensure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s overloaded the switch will be in the in between or “off” position.
• Quickly shift the lever back to the “on” location. If it instantly flips again, leave it alone and contact us at 763-535-2000. A breaker that keeps tripping may mean your house has an electrical problem.

If your thermostat isn’t telling your AC to work, it won’t activate.

The main step is making sure it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your AC will probably not switch on. Or you could have. warm air coming from vents being the heater is going instead.

If you rely on a digital thermostat:

• Swap out the batteries if the screen is clear. If the monitor is presenting jumbled characters, buy a new thermostat.
• Ensure the correct mode is showing. If you can’t alter it, reverse it by decreasing the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if the configuration is incorrect.
• Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees below the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat is identical to the space’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is set properly, you should start getting chilled air fast.

If you rely on a smart thermostat, like one produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you’re still having problems, call us at 763-535-2000 for help.

Your air conditioner typically has a shut-off switch near its outdoor unit. This switch is typically in a metal box attached to your home. If your AC has recently been tuned up, the device may have inadvertently been put in the “off” setting.

Condensate drain pans catch the additional condensation your AC pulls from the air. This pan can be situated either below or inside your furnace or air handler.

When there’s an obstruction or clogged drain, water can become concentrated and initiate a safety setting to stop your system.

If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the additional water with a formulated pan-cleaning capsule. You can buy these tablets at a home improvement or hardware retailer.

If your pan has a pump, locate the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you might have to replace the pump. Call us at 763-535-2000 for assistance.

If your equipment is running but not cooling, its airflow may be congested. Or it might not have enough refrigerant.

Your equipment’s airflow can be limited by a clogged air filter or filthy condenser.

A dusty filter can cause a lot of troubles, like:

• Limited cooling
• Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Inconsistent cooling
• Larger cooling costs
• Causing your system to break down sooner

We suggest changing flat filters monthly, and creased filters every three months.

If you aren’t sure when you last replaced yours, turn off your unit totally and take out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be found in a connected filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.

Angle the filter up to your light fixture. If you can’t see through it you certainly should replace it.

Brush, grass and leaves can get in the way of your condensing system. This may limit its airflow, make it less energy efficient and affect your comfort. Here’s how you can get your system running properly again.

1. Turn off electricity completely at the breaker or outdoor lever.
2. Remove yard waste around the unit. Once you’ve cleared larger debris within a two-foot range, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to carefully clean the equipment’s fins. Bent fins can also affect effectiveness, so you can attempt to adjust them with a blunt knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to gingerly take off dirt on the fins from inside the unit. Don’t get water on the fan motor.
4. Replace the top and turn the power back on.

When AC units don’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your house.

Here are a couple of symptoms that your system is leaking refrigerant:

1. It takes an extended amount of time to refresh your residence and you’re regularly turning down the thermostat.
2. Cooling moving through the registers isn’t as chilly as it should be.
3. You’re hearing whistling or gurgling sounds when cooling runs.
4. Your evaporator coil is iced over as a result of having trouble handling warmth.

Suspect your system is leaking refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service expert to fix the leak and refill the proper measurement of refrigerant in your system. Contact us at 763-535-2000 for support.

When it seems like you’re not getting ample amounts of cold air, there’s likely a blockage or detachment within your air conditioning equipment.

• The first stage is examining your air filter. Buy a new one if it’s soiled.
• Then make sure the ductwork is clear throughout your home.
• If you’re still not experiencing enough chilled air, you should have your ductwork examined by a specialist like GV Heating & Air. Your ductwork may need to be serviced or relinked in limited space spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.