Before You Call…

When your air conditioner is on the fritz in the middle of a sweltering Ohio summer, we don’t blame you for jumping on the phone straight away and calling Allied Services, Inc. And while we’re proud to be your first call, and always happy to help, there may be an easier way to fix your AC unit. Sometimes, the problem does not require professional assistance as the solution is simpler than the average homeowner realizes. Below we’ve listed a few things you can do to troubleshoot your air conditioner issues, to save you valuable time and money and get your home back to a comfortable temperature.

Troubleshooting Your Thermostat

Step number one is looking at your thermostat. If your air conditioner isn’t coming on when it should, sometimes it’s because the thermostat settings are off. Here are a few things to check:

• Make sure the thermostat’s mode is set to cool and hasn’t accidentally been turned to heat mode.
• Set the temperature to a few degrees below the current room temperature to start a cooling cycle. If your thermostat is programmable, the schedule might not be reflecting your desired temperatures.
• Make sure the vacation or hold features are not in use. These features are handy for energy savings when your home is unoccupied. But, if they’re in use when you are home, they prevent your thermostat from communicating with the air conditioning system.

Troubleshooting the Power Supply

Air conditioners and thermostats need electricity to operate. So a lack of power will, of course, cause your unit not to run as it should.

• If your thermostat is battery powered, change the batteries.
• If your thermostat is hard-wired, check the breaker or fuse that controls its circuit. If the breaker is tripped or fuse burned out, the thermostat has no power and is unable to activate your cooling system.
• Check the breakers or fuses that power your actual air conditioning unit and flip the breakers or replace the fuses as needed.
• Finally, be sure your unit’s on/off switch isn’t moved to the ‘off’ position. The on/off switch for indoor components is likely located on your air handler or furnace, or on a nearby wall.

Troubleshooting the Airflow

Finally, before making that call to the repairman, be sure to check the components that affect the airflow of your unit.

• Check your furnace filter: if it’s dirty, replace it; be sure it’s positioned properly in the unit; and be sure the filter is the correct size for your unit.
• Inspect the exterior of your outdoor unit. Make sure it’s not covered in grass clippings or debris.
• Make sure all vents throughout your home are opened, and that return air grilles are unblocked.

If you’ve completed these steps and your air conditioner still isn’t working, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. Our team at Allied Services provides air conditioning repair and installation services in Dayton, OH, and nearby areas. Contact us today at (937) 269-5059 to schedule an appointment.