AC Repair in York, PA: How to Repair 3 Frequent Problems

There can be a couple of explanations why your air conditioning won’t cool: a tripped circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a switched off switch or a full condensate drain pan.

Your system won’t turn on when you have a blown breaker.

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

• Confirm your hands and feet are dry before you touch the panel or breakers.
• Locate the breaker identified “AC” and confirm it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s tripped the switch will be in the in between or “off” spot.
• Firmly move the lever back to the “on” position. If it instantaneously triggers again, don’t reset it and contact us at 717-383-4479. A breaker that keeps flipping may indicate your residence has an electrical issue.

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

The most important step is ensuring it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioning might not turn on. Or you could have. warm air moving from vents since the furnace is on instead.

If you’re using a regular thermostat:

• Swap out the batteries if the screen is blank. If the readout is showing garbled letters, replace the thermostat.
• Make sure the correct mode is displaying. If you can’t alter it, override it by lowering the temperature and pushing the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if programming is incorrect.
• Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat matches the space’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is adjusted correctly, you should start getting cold air quickly.

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’re still having problems, call us at 717-383-4479 for help.

Your system usually has a shut-off lever by its condenser. This switch is typically in a metal box hung on your residence. If your equipment has recently been serviced, the device may have accidentally been left in the “off” setting.

Condensate drain pans hold the extra liquid your AC takes out of the air. This pan is located either beneath or within your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a clog or backed up drain, water can accumulate and prompt a safety setting to turn off your equipment.

If your pan involves a PVC pipe or drain, you can clear the surplus condensation with a special pan-cleaning capsule. You can get these tabs at a home improvement or hardware retailer.

If your pan involves a pump, look for the float switch. If the mechanism is “up” and there’s water in the pan, you might have to replace the pump. Call us at 717-383-4479 for help.

If your air conditioner is on but not delivering cold air, its airflow might be obstructed. Or it might not have enough refrigerant.

Your unit’s airflow can be reduced by a blocked air filter or filthy condenser.

A dirty filter can create numerous troubles, including:

• Reduced cooling
• Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Intermittent cooling
• Larger energy costs
• Making your system break down more quickly

We suggest changing flat filters monthly, and creased filters every three months.

If you can’t remember when you last installed a new one, shut off your equipment fully and take out the filter. You can find the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be located in an attached filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.

Angle the filter up to your light fixture. If you see a lot of dust you need to buy a new filter.

Brush, plants and leaves can obstruct your condensing system. This can limit its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s how you can get your system working well again.

1. Turn off power totally at the breaker or outside device.
2. Get rid of yard debris around the equipment. Once you’ve cleared bigger debris within a two-foot area, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to carefully remove dirt from the unit’s fins. Deformed fins can also affect capability, so you can attempt to correct them with a dinner knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to slowly clean the fins from inside the equipment. Be careful to avoid getting liquid on the fan motor.
4. Install the top again and turn on the power.

When cooling systems don’t have adequate refrigerant, they’ll have difficulty removing heat and humidity from your house.

Here are several signs that your unit is seeping refrigerant:

1. It takes too long to lower the temperature in your home and you’re constantly decreasing the temperature on the thermostat.
2. Air coming through the vents isn’t as cold as it should be.
3. You’re hearing whistling or bubbling noises when cooling runs.
4. Your evaporator coil is frozen as a result of having an issue taking on heat.

Worried your system is losing refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service specialist to repair the leak and restore the proper level of refrigerant in your system. Reach us at 717-383-4479 for assistance.

When it feels like you’re not getting enough cold air, there’s usually an obstruction or separation within your air conditioning unit.

• The first stage is checking your air filter. Get a new one if it’s dusty.
• Then make sure the registers are open throughout your house.
• If you’re still not receiving sufficient chilled air, you should have your ducts inspected by a professional like Strine's. Your ductwork may need to be serviced or relinked in difficult areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.