Why Is My AC Not Turning On?

For most people, the warmer months are firmly in the rearview mirror, but that doesn't mean that you are done with your air conditioner just yet. Few things are more annoying than when something in your home doesn't work properly, and that applies double to your air conditioner, which is responsible for not only decreasing humidity levels in your home but also keeping your family comfortable.

One of the most common air conditioner repairs that HVAC technicians handle on a regular basis is air conditioners that don't turn on.  If that's happening to you, it could be caused by a number of different issues, many of which are outlined below.

Check the Breaker Box

Your home's electrical grid is broken up into a series of circuits, and your AC unit usually dominates one of those circuits. Even something as simple as a minor power surge can overload the circuit and trip the breaker, causing the switch to flip to prevent a fire. If your AC unit isn't starting, check the breaker box to see if that's the case. If it's flipped off, turn it back on, but don't keep flipping the switch if the breaker keeps shutting it off, since that could be indicative of a larger electrical problem.

Check the Thermostat

It sounds silly, but it's surprising how many homeowners call an HVAC company to report an air conditioner that won't work when the thermostat is simply not turned on. Even if it's operational, it could be malfunctioning, since thermostats only last around 10 years anyways. Switch it to "heat" and see if your furnace starts up; if that doesn't work either, it's most likely a problem with your thermostat.

Check the Motor

Getting inside your air conditioning unit to inspect the fan blades and the motor can be tricky, so if you're uncomfortable with this step, contact an HVAC company that specializes in air conditioning repairs to do it for you. Once you get the grates off, see if the motor has a smoky smell or shows scorch marks from being burnt up. Usually, this can come about because of a clogged air filter or from overuse. There's not much you can do except replace it.

Check the Connection

Regardless of whether or not your AC unit runs on gas or electricity, you should check the connection point to make sure that it's still intact. If it's loose, contact an HVAC company to restore that power and your system should be operational. They'll also inspect your unit to see why the disconnect happened in the first place and make any AC repairs that they think are necessary.

If your AC isn't turning on, contact an HVAC company, such as ASAP AIR A/C and Heating, for additional help.

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