AC Repair in Pacheco, CA: How to Repair 3 Common Problems

There can be a couple of reasons why your AC equipment won’t cool: a tripped circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.

Your AC won’t work when you have a tripped breaker.

To determine if one has gotten overloaded, locate your house’s main electrical panel. You can spot this metallic fixture on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

• Make sure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you work on the panel or breakers.
• Look for the breaker identified “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s tripped the switch will be in the middle or “off” spot.
• Quickly move the lever back to the “on” position. If it instantly trips again, don’t reset it and call us at 925-233-6238. A breaker that keeps turning off could indicate your home has an electrical problem.

If your thermostat isn’t giving a sign to your equipment to run, it won’t turn on.

The most important step is ensuring it’s switched to “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner might not turn on. Or you may have. hot air moving from vents because the furnace is running instead.

If you’re using a regular thermostat:

• Swap out the batteries if the readout is clear. If the readout is presenting garbled characters, buy a new thermostat.
• Ensure the right option is showing. If you can’t alter it, cancel it by decreasing the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if the configuration is incorrect.
• Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees colder than the room’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is identical to the house’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is calibrated properly, you should begin getting refreshing air quickly.

If you rely on a smart thermostat, like one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, go to the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If it still won’t work, call us at 925-233-6238 for assistance.

Your system typically has a shut-down device near its outdoor unit. This switch is commonly in a metal box hung on your residence. If your equipment has recently been maintained, the switch may have accidentally been placed in the “off” location.

Condensate drain pans catch the additional water your system takes out of the air. This pan can be positioned either under or in your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a clog or clogged drain, water can become concentrated and prompt a safety feature to stop your equipment.

If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the extra condensation with a custom pan-cleaning tablet. You can purchase these tablets at a home improvement or hardware store.

If your pan involves a pump, find the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you might have to replace the pump. Reach us at 925-233-6238 for assistance.

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

Your equipment’s airflow can be limited by a plugged air filter or dirty condenser.

A dusty filter can cause numerous troubles, including:

• Limited cooling
• Frozen refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Uneven cooling
• Increased cooling costs
• Causing your system to break down sooner

We suggest replacing flat filters once a month, and pleated filters every three months.

If you can’t recall when you last replaced yours, turn off your AC totally and take out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be located in an attached filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.

Hold the filter up to your light fixture. If you can’t see any light you certainly should get a new one.

Brush, grass and sticks can block your condensing system. This could restrict its airflow, lower its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your equipment working properly again.

1. Switch off the electrical current completely at the breaker or outdoor lever.
2. Remove plant waste around the AC. Once you’ve cleared larger refuse within a two-foot range, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to carefully remove dirt from the equipment’s fins. Distorted fins can also affect efficiency, so you can attempt to adjust them with a small knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to slowly clean the fins from inside the system. Be careful to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
4. Put the top back on and restore the power.

When air conditioning equipment doesn’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 seeping refrigerant:

1. It takes too long to refresh your rooms and you’re constantly lowering the thermostat.
2. Air conditioning coming through the registers isn’t as chilled as it should be.
3. You’re hearing hissing or bubbling sounds when cooling works.
4. Your evaporator coil is frosted as a result of having an issue handling warmth.

Suspect your equipment is leaking refrigerant? You need a authorized heating and cooling service professional to take care of the leak and restore the proper amount of refrigerant in your system. Contact us at 925-233-6238 for assistance.

When it seems like you’re not getting enough cool air, there’s usually a blockage or detachment within your cooling system.

• The beginning place is examining your air filter. Get a new one if it’s filthy.
• Then ensure the ductwork is clear throughout your residence.
• If you’re still not experiencing sufficient chilly air, you should have your ducts examined by a professional like Clean Air HVAC. Your ductwork may need to be serviced or rejoined in limited space spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.