Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Moline, Illinois, can appear like a lot of hassle.

There’s a better way. There are several quick remedies you can attempt by yourself that might help you get out of an AC service call.

When you’re having air conditioning issues, try this checklist before calling a heating and cooling repair professional like J.L. Brady Company LLC.

Our experts are standing by at 309-517-7511 when you need expert service. We have emergency AC repair and work on most brands of central AC equipment.

If you want to get an up to date air conditioner, we also provide AC installation.

When you’re in contact with us, contemplate a yearly AC maintenance plan that may help you keep clear of future malfunctions. We can advise how often you need air conditioner service.

Ready to get started troubleshooting your system? Try our fast tips below. Many of these procedures don’t require any HVAC knowledge.

Air Conditioner Repair Checklist

1. AC Won’t Turn On

There can be several explanations why your air conditioning won’t work: a tripped circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.

Overloaded Circuit Breaker

Your system won’t start when you have an overloaded breaker.

To see if one has tripped, go to your home’s main electrical panel. You can spot this gray device 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 identified “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” location. If it’s tripped the lever will be in the middle or “off” position.
  • Steadily transfer the breaker back to the “on” position. If it instantly trips again, leave it alone and get in touch with us at 309-517-7511. A breaker that keeps tripping might mean your home has an electrical issue.

Incorrect Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t telling your equipment to start, it won’t switch on.

The first point is checking it’s set to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning may not turn on. Or you might have. hot air coming from vents being the heater is running instead.

If you’re using a traditional thermostat:

  • Replace the batteries if the readout is clear. If the screen is displaying scrambled characters, get a new thermostat.
  • Ensure the right mode is on the display. If you can’t update it, reverse it by dropping the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if the configuration is not right.
  • Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is set the same as the space’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is adjusted properly, you should begin getting cool air fast.

If you have a smart thermostat, like one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you still can’t get it to work, contact us at 309-517-7511 for help.

Turn-Off Switch

Your cooling equipment usually has a shut-off lever around its condenser. This lever is typically in a metal box mounted on your home. If your AC has recently been maintained, the switch may have inadvertently been left in the “off” setting.

Blocked Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans catch the extra condensation your AC removes from the air. This pan can be positioned either beneath or inside your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a blockage or clogged drain, water can build up and initiate a safety control to stop your air conditioner.

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

If your pan involves a pump, locate the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you might have to install a new pump. Call us at 309-517-7511 for support.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your AC is working but not delivering cold air, its airflow could be clogged. Or it might not have enough refrigerant.

Clogged Airflow

Your unit’s airflow can be restricted by a plugged air filter or filthy condenser.

How to Replace Your Air Filter

A filthy filter can create many problems, like:

  • Limited comfort
  • Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Uneven cooling
  • Increased electricity bills
  • Causing your system to wear out faster

We recommend changing flat filters every four weeks, and accordion filters every three months.

If you can’t remember when you last replaced yours, shut off your unit fully and take out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be located in a connected filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.

Hold the filter up to the light. If you can’t see through it you need to replace it.

4 Tips on Cleaning Your AC System

Brush, vegetation and sticks can block your condensing system. This can limit its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and affect your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your unit operating well again.

  1. Shut off electricity completely at the breaker or outdoor switch.
  2. Clear plant rubbish around the air conditioner. Once you’ve gotten rid of all the clutter within a two-foot space, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to carefully remove dirt from the equipment’s fins. Deformed fins can also impact efficiency, so you can attempt to straighten them with a small knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to carefully take off dirt on the fins from inside the equipment. Be careful to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
  4. Put the top back on and turn the power back on.

Low Refrigerant Levels

When cooling systems don’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll have to work much harder to remove heat and humidity from your residence.

Here are a few signs that your unit is losing refrigerant:

  1. It takes too long to lower the temperature in your rooms and you’re regularly lowering the thermostat.
  2. Cooling blowing through the ducts isn’t as chilly as it should be.
  3. You’re noticing whistling or gurgling sounds when cooling runs.
  4. Your evaporator coil is frosty as a result of having an issue handling humidity.

Suspect your equipment is leaking refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service expert to take care of the leak and replenish the proper measurement of refrigerant in your equipment. Contact us at 309-517-7511 for assistance.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it appears like you’re not having ample amounts of chilled air, there’s potentially an obstruction or separation within your cooling unit.

  • The beginning stage is checking your air filter. Replace it if it’s soiled.
  • Then make sure the ductwork is open throughout your home.
  • If you’re still not experiencing enough chilled air, you should have your ductwork examined by a specialist like J.L. Brady Company LLC. Your ductwork may need to be repaired or hooked up again in tricky areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.

Request Pro Air Conditioner Repair Now

When you require air conditioning service quickly, contact the HVAC repair experts at J.L. Brady Company LLC at 309-517-7511. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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