AC Repair in Menomonie and western Wisconsin, WI: How to Fix 3 Frequent Issues

There can be a few reasons why your air conditioner won’t start: an overloaded circuit breaker, incorrect thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.

Your air conditioning won’t run when you have a blown breaker.

To see if one has tripped, locate your home’s main electrical panel. You can spot this silver box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

• Ensure your hands and feet aren’t wet before you work on the panel or breakers.
• Locate the breaker identified “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s tripped the lever will be in the middle or “off” position.
• Steadily shift the switch back to the “on” position. If it instantly flips again, don’t touch it and call us at 715-352-4052. A fuse that keeps flipping could mean your house has an electrical issue.

If your thermostat isn’t signaling your AC to start, it won’t activate.

The most important point is ensuring it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner may not start running. Or you could receive. hot air coming from vents being the heat is on instead.

If you rely on a regular thermostat:

• Put in new batteries if the readout is empty. If the monitor is displaying garbled numbers, get a new thermostat.
• Make sure the proper setting is displaying. If you can’t change it, cancel it by lowering the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if programming is incorrect.
• Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees cooler than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat is set the same as the house’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is set properly, you should receive refreshing air promptly.

If you rely on a smart thermostat, including ones produced by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If you still can’t get it to work, reach us at 715-352-4052 for assistance.

Your system usually has a shut-off switch near its outdoor unit. This switch is typically in a metal box mounted on your home. If your air conditioner has recently been worked on, the lever may have accidentally been placed in the “off” position.

Condensate drain pans hold the additional liquid your AC takes out of the air. This pan can be found either below or inside your furnace or air handler.

When there’s an obstruction or clogged drain, water can accumulate and trigger a safety control to stop your air conditioner.

If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the surplus water with a custom pan-cleaning tab. You can get these tabs at a home improvement or hardware shop.

If your pan has a pump, locate the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you might have to get a new pump. Call us at 715-352-4052 for help.

If your air conditioner is on but not cooling, its airflow might be clogged. Or it could not have enough refrigerant.

Your system’s airflow can be reduced by a clogged air filter or dirty condenser.

A dirty filter can create many problems, such as:

• Limited cooling
• Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Inconsistent cooling
• Bigger cooling expenses
• Leading your system to break down faster

We propose replacing flat filters monthly, and pleated filters every three months.

If you aren’t sure when you last replaced yours, switch off your system totally and remove the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be situated in an adjoining filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.

Tilt the filter up to the sunshine. If you see a lot of dust you certainly should replace it.

Weeds, plants and leaves can obstruct your condensing unit. This may limit its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s a way you can get your equipment operating properly again.

1. Switch off power totally at the breaker or external switch.
2. Get rid of greenery waste around the unit. Once you’ve cleared bigger debris within a two-foot area, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to slowly clean the equipment’s fins. Bent fins can also hurt efficiency, so you can attempt to adjust them with a dinner knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to carefully take off dirt on the fins from inside the unit. Be careful to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
4. Put the top back on and turn on the power.

When air conditioning units don’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from the air.

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

1. It takes a long time to lower the temperature in your rooms and you’re continually turning down the thermostat.
2. Air moving through the vents isn’t as chilled as it should be.
3. You’re noticing hissing or gurgling noises when the air conditioning runs.
4. Your evaporator coil is frosty as a result of having difficulty handling humidity.

Suspect your system is losing refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service specialist to take care of the leak and replenish the proper level of refrigerant in your unit. Contact us at 715-352-4052 for help.

When it feels like you’re not receiving enough chilled air, there’s usually a clog or detachment somewhere in your air conditioning unit.

• The beginning step is looking at your air filter. Get a new one if it’s soiled.
• Then make sure the ductwork is clear around your residence.
• If you’re still not experiencing enough chilly air, you should have your ductwork examined by a professional like Halverson Brothers Inc. Your ducts might need to be fixed or hooked up again in difficult locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.