Your home or business HVAC system is essential to your comfort and wellbeing. Unfortunately, most McKinney, TX, homeowners experience problems with their air conditioning units from time to time. If your air conditioner won’t turn on, there are a number of steps that you can take to identify and solve the problem. Remember that some HVAC problems must be handled by a professional to ensure your safety and the integrity of your cooling system. AC Won’t Turn On: Common Problems Most modern air conditioners are designed to offer up to 10 to 20 years of reliable use. However, even the most reliable of air conditioners may stop cooling or suffer from problems from time to time. Remember that one of the best ways to prevent unexpected A/C problems is to have regular maintenance performed on your unit. If you cannot perform the maintenance yourself, hire a professional to do so. Spending money on maintenance now can save you from big repair bills in the future. Some of the most common AC problems are listed below, and they may even be the reason why your air conditioning unit won’t kick on.

Review this information so that you know how to best troubleshoot problems with your unit. Be sure to determine whether your unit has shut down entirely or whether only a part of your unit has shut down or isn’t working. Remember that it is always necessary to cut power off to your unit before inspecting it for wiring-related problems. The AC unit does not cool rooms evenly: Inspect your unit’s distribution channels. Make sure that the fan on your unit is kicking air into rooms or into your duct system. The AC unit turns on but doesn’t cool: If your unit turns on but doesn’t cool, check your thermostat to be sure that it is set at the correct temperature. You should then check the condenser and evaporator for dirt and clogging. If too much dirt builds up, your unit may not turn on at all. The condenser unit returns on and off repeatedly: Having a unit turn on and off repeatedly is extremely frustrating. In general, this problem is caused either by a dirty condenser and fan or a clogged condenser.

The condenser unit won’t turn on: If your condenser unit won’t turn on at all, you may have a faulty motor or the unit may not be receiving power. Examine all wiring and ensure that the unit is plugged in.how to use belletto airbrush cleaning pot Common Causes of Air Conditioner Problemsdelonghi ac100 air purifier reviews Common AC problems can be frustrating. hunter air purifier manual 30729However, there’s nothing more frustrating than when your air conditioner won’t turn on. Review the following common causes of serious AC problems. You will need to consult with a professional technician in order to address most of these problems. Wiring problems: Problems with the wiring in your unit or the wiring that runs from your unit to an outlet are one of the leading causes of air conditioner breakdowns.

It’s a good idea to check the breakers in your house’s power box and adjacent outlets to ensure that the problem lies with the air conditioner and not other electrical components. Icy buildup: If ice collects of your condenser coils or other portions of your unit, the AC may not turn on or may not cool air efficiently. The unit must be dethawed and all ice must be removed before it will operate properly. Faulty motors: In most cases, your A/C unit will shut down entirely if its motor is faulty. You will need to decide if your motor can be repaired or if it must be replaced. Faulty compressors: Problems with your compressor may cause your A/C unit to shut down. Keeping your compressor clean can help to prevent these problems. Dirty evaporators, filters or condenser: Dirt and buildup in an A/C system is one of the leading causes of breakdowns. Be sure to have your unit serviced on a regular basis to prevent these problems. If your unit has filters, they should be changed according to the manufacturer’s schedule.

Refrigerant shortages: If your A/C unit doesn’t have enough refrigerant, it may not turn on or may not operate correctly. You should always have a professional technician check refrigerant levels and change these fluids. Faulty thermostats: Be sure to eliminate the possibility that your unit won’t turn on because your thermostat is faulty. If you suspect that your thermostat is bad, try turning the A/C on from the main unit. If the unit will turn on manually, you are likely suffering from a thermostat problem. Resolving Air Conditioner Problems: Repair or Replace? How do you fix an AC unit that won’t start? If your air conditioner simply won’t turn on, you’ll need to decide if you should repair or replace the unit. Remember that units over 12 years old should generally be replaced with more efficient units. If the AC cuts on and off before your home is cool or your hvac unit won’t shut off, you may need a repair. However, you should carefully evaluate repair costs before making a final decision.

If repairs will cost more than 50 percent of your unit’s overall value, it is better to replace the unit. Solving air conditioner problems quickly is absolutely essential, especially in warm spring and summer months. At Bill Joplin’s Air Conditioning & Heating, we focus on providing for the air conditioning needs for both residential and commercial customers throughout the McKinney, TX, area. We will be happy to help you whether your air conditioner won’t turn on or you are interested in having a new HVAC system installed. Ensuring your comfort is our top priority.Properly working heating and cooling systems are integral aspects of a comfortable home or workplace, especially during summer. One malfunction can leave you sweltering in the heat and make your home unbearable. When temperatures start to cliumb outside, the last thing you want is to find your portable air conditioner knocked out by a simple malfunction. The good news is that not every malfunction is a disaster.

Though some require professional help, a great many can be resolved on your own, without the need for a technician. Before you spend any money on repairs, take some time to see if any of these simple fixes are enough to get your portable AC up and running again.   Portable air conditioners are ideal for cooling small areas, such as bedrooms or living rooms, or for providing supplemental cooling in places central AC systems can't reach. Because they're small units, the two primary reasons for inadequate cooling are incorrect sizing and extreme ambient temperatures. The size of an air conditioner refers to its cooling power, not its physical proportions. Portable ACs are sized according to their BTU ratings, and if your portable AC has the wrong BTU rating for the size of the room you're trying to cool, its efficiency will be affected. A unit with too many BUTs will cause the unit to cycle off too quickly, while a unit with too few won't be powerful enough to affect the ambient temperature. 

To find out whether your portable air conditioner is the right size for the  room it's in, meaure the length and width of the room. If your room is oddly shaped, try breaking it up into smaller shapes like squares and triangles. Calculate the area of a triangle my multiplying the base by the height and dividing in two. Once you've calculated the area, consult our portable air conditioner sizing guide so see what size air conditioner will work best in that space. If you're on the cusp of two different sizes, always choose the bigger one. It's okay to have a little more BTU than you need, just so long as it's close to the correct size.On the other hand, if the ambient temperature is too high, it can also cause insufficient cooling. As portbale AC units release cool air out into the room, they vent hot air from the compressor outside. This constant venting causes a pressure imbalance that pulls in warm air from the other areas, including adjoining rooms and the outdoors. Normally, if the room is properly sealed and all the doors and windows are closed, the air coming is never enough to overwhelm the portable AC unit.

If there's a leak, or if the ourside temperature is extremely high, the air conditioner may not be able to generate enough cold air to cool the room. Sunlight can also heat a room faster than your portable air conditioner can cool it. If temperature keeps rising, check for leaks and close the blinds. It may be enough to swing things the other way.   Portable Air Conditioner Buying Tip: Visit our sizing page to learn how to properly size a portable AC, or visit our product library to learn how to maximize your portable AC's efficiency.If your portable AC won't start, the most likely explanation is lack of power. Start by making sure the power cord is correctly plugged in and that the cord itself isn't damaged. Check the wall plug and circuit breaker as well. Try resetting the circuit at the breaker box, or changing the socket or outlet. Only after these steps have failed to resolve the problem should you take the portable air conditioner to a qualified electrician to have the fuse replaced. 

Check to make sure the timer is not on, as an active timer can cause the unit to cease operation. Also, if  the ambient temperature in your room is lower than the set temperature, this may cause your portable air conditioner to shut off. To remedy this, shut the unit down and wait for the room temperature to rise before turning the the unit back on again. There are many reaons for lack of air flow. The most common cause is a clogged filter. Remove the grill in the back of the unit and clean any excess dust off the filter with a brush or a vacuum, then rinse if off with some running water. Also check for clogs in the evaporator or condenser coils, which you can see in the top compartment of the AC unit after you remove the grill and filters. If you spot any, remove them with your vacuum hose attachment. The second reason your portable air conditioner may not be venting air is frost on the cooling coils, also known as the evaporator coils. This happens when the low temperatures around the coils causes water to condense. 

If the water doesn't drain properly, it can build up and freeze around the coils, hampering air flow. To check the coils the same as above. Remove the back grill and the filters and inspect the top compartment. If you see any fronst, turn the unit off and let it defrost. Once the ice has melted, normal operation should resume. Read our article on automatic defrosting and frozen AC coils to learn more. The third reason may be the compressor has overheated. Check the hose and window unit to make sure they're still venting air properly. If the portable AC is unable can't vent the heat generated by the compressor, it will build up inside the unit and cause the compressor to shut down. Straighten the hose, remove any blockages, and position the unit further away from the window. If the it's too close, the hose can sag restrict air flow (visit our venting FAQ to learn more). Let the unit cool for 15-30 minutes and then turn it back on. Normal operation should resume. If it doesn't, it's time to call a qualified professional.