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When Your AC Won’t Turn On

Avoiding the panic button: what to do when your air conditioner won’t turn on

Avoid panicking about HVAC problems by calling your contractor. The temperature is rising and… oh no! Your air conditioner does not kick on. Or, worse yet, it starts blowing out HOT air. Before you throw in the towel and decide to call someone, there are some minor things you can check for that could be causing the problem. Keep in mind, we are not encouraging DIY air conditioning solutions, but these are some simple things you can check that do not involve tinkering with the system.
  • Power to the unit. Maybe the unit is simply not turned on (outdoor or indoor equipment). Maybe you went to change the filter, turned the system off and forgot to switch it back on? This fix simply involves flipping on a switch.
  • Power continued… Have you blown a fuse? Is your circuit breaker the source of the problem? Make sure that a fuse simply hasn’t blown and replace it. Again, another quick fix that does not involve a contractor.If your air conditioner isn't working properly, turn it off to avoid damage.
  • Closed registers. While we do not encourage people to use their registers or vents for temperature control, sometimes it happens. Make sure that all of your vents are open.
  • Check the thermostat. If your thermostat is set at a temperature that is currently warmer than the temperature in your home, the system won’t turn on. Either wait for the temperature in your home to rise, or drop the thermostat down a few degrees.
Beyond these tips, it is best practice for you to turn off your unit, call a contractor and use some of our cooling tips while you wait. Remember, emergency maintenance can often lead to long wait times for contractors. Heading potential problems off with preventative maintenance is really the way to go.  

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1 Comment to “ When Your AC Won’t Turn On”

  1. Tyler Meredith says :
    February 23, 2016 at 8:36 pm

    I like what this article mentions about checking the fuses to make sure they’re all intact. I wouldn’t want a problem as simple to this to last much longer so I’ll have to check. I’ll also have to call a technician just to make sure nothing broke to cause it to switch off.