Troubleshooting and doing your own AC repair in Portland, Oregon, can appear like a lot of hassle.

There’s a better way. There are several quick remedies you can attempt by yourself that might help you get out of an AC service call.

When you’re having air conditioning issues, try this checklist before calling a heating and cooling repair professional like Three Rivers Heating & Cooling.

Our experts are standing by at 503-213-4433 when you need expert service. We have emergency AC repair and work on most brands of central AC equipment.

If you want to get an up to date air conditioner, we also provide AC installation.

When you’re in contact with us, contemplate a yearly AC maintenance plan that may help you keep clear of future malfunctions. We can advise how often you need air conditioner service.

Ready to get started troubleshooting your system? Try our fast tips below. Many of these procedures don’t require any HVAC knowledge.

Air Conditioner Repair Checklist

1. AC Won’t Turn On

There can be a couple of causes why your central AC system won’t start: an overloaded circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a shut off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.

Overloaded Circuit Breaker

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

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

  • Make sure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you check the panel or breakers.
  • Locate the breaker labeled “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” position. If it’s tripped the lever will be in the middle of the panel or “off” spot.
  • Quickly shift the switch back to the “on” location. If it instantaneously flips again, don’t touch it and contact us at 503-213-4433. A breaker that keeps turning off could mean your house has electrical trouble.

Incorrect Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat isn’t signaling your air conditioner to run, it won’t activate.

The most important part is making sure it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner might not switch on. Or you may have. hot air blowing from vents since the heat is going instead.

If you have a regular thermostat:

  • Put in new batteries if the monitor is clear. If the screen is displaying jumbled numbers, buy a new thermostat.
  • Check the right program is on the display. If you can’t update it, override it by dropping the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will make your AC start if the configuration is not right.
  • Test setting the thermostat 5 degrees below the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t work if the thermostat is set the same as the room’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is calibrated accurately, you should start getting cold air fast.

If you have a smart thermostat, such as one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting. If it still won’t work, contact us at 503-213-4433 for support.

Turn-Off Switch

Your air conditioner probably has a power-cutting device around its outdoor unit. This switch is typically in a metal box mounted on your home. If your unit has recently been repaired, the device may have accidentally been left in the “off” location.

Overflowing Condensate Drain Pan

Condensate drain pans keep the extra liquid your equipment takes out of the air. This pan can be positioned either below or in your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a blockage or backed up drain, water can build up and prompt a safety setting to switch off your air conditioner.

If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the surplus condensation with a special pan-cleaning tablet. You can buy these tabs at a home improvement or hardware shop.

If your pan includes a pump, find the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s moisture in the pan, you may need to replace the pump. Reach us at 503-213-4433 for help.

2. AC Blows Warm Air

If your air conditioner is on but not providing cold air, its airflow could be clogged. Or it may not have adequate refrigerant.

Blocked Airflow

Your unit’s airflow can be reduced by a plugged air filter or dirty condenser.

How to Put in a New Your Air Filter

A dirty filter can lead to countless issues, such as:

  • Reduced cooling
  • Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Inconsistent cooling
  • Bigger utility costs
  • Leading your system to break down sooner

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

If you can’t recall when you last installed a new one, switch off your equipment totally and take out the filter. You can locate the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It may also be found in an attached filter box or wall-mounted return air grille.

Hold the filter up to the sunshine. If you see a lot of dust you need to replace it.

4 Tips on Cleaning Your Cooling System

Weeds, grass and sticks can get in the way of your condensing system. This may limit its airflow, make it less energy efficient and impact your comfort. Here’s how you can get your equipment working well again.

  1. Turn off the electrical current completely at the breaker or outdoor device.
  2. Remove vegetation waste around the unit. Once you’ve cleared all the clutter within a two-foot area, you can use a paint brush or vacuum to carefully remove dirt from the condenser fins. Crooked fins can also affect effectiveness, so you can attempt to reshape them with a small knife.
  3. Use a hose nozzle to slowly clean the fins from inside the equipment. Don’t get water on the fan motor.
  4. Replace the top and turn the power back on.

Not Enough Refrigerant

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

Here are several indications that your system is losing refrigerant:

  1. It takes an extended amount of time to refresh your house and you’re continually lowering the thermostat.
  2. Air conditioning coming through the vents isn’t as chilly as it should be.
  3. You’re noticing fizzing or bubbling sounds when the AC is on.
  4. Your evaporator coil is iced over due to having an issue handling humidity.

Think your system is leaking refrigerant? You need a certified heating and cooling service specialist to repair the leak and replenish the right amount of refrigerant in your system. Reach us at 503-213-4433 for support.

3. AC Not Blowing Enough Air

When it appears like you’re not receiving adequate amounts of chilled air, there’s likely an obstruction or disconnection inside your AC system.

  • The beginning place is looking at your air filter. Replace it if it’s dirty.
  • Then make sure the registers are clear across your rooms.
  • If you’re still not getting ample chilly air, you should have your duct system inspected by a professional like Three Rivers Heating & Cooling. Your duct system might need to be repaired or reconnected in difficult areas like your attic, basement or crawl space.

Request Pro Air Conditioner Repair Now

When you require air conditioning service quickly, contact the HVAC repair experts at Three Rivers Heating & Cooling at 503-213-4433. We’ll quickly identify the problem when your equipment won’t work or provide enough chilled air.

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