AC Repair in Northridge, CA: How to Fix 3 Frequent Problems

There can be a few explanations why your AC equipment won’t start: an overloaded circuit breaker, wrong thermostat settings, a turned off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.

Your cooling won’t work when you have a blown breaker.

To see if one has gotten overloaded, locate your house’s main electrical panel. You can locate this gray box on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

• Confirm your hands and feet are free of moisture before you check the panel or breakers.
• Locate the breaker identified “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s tripped the switch will be in the middle of the panel or “off” position.
• Firmly transfer the breaker back to the “on” location. If it immediately flips again, leave it alone and get in touch with us at (818) 727-9993. A fuse that keeps turning off might mean your house has an electrical issue.

If your thermostat isn’t telling your equipment to start, it won’t activate.

The most important step is ensuring it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner will probably not switch on. Or you could get. warm air coming from vents because the heat is going instead.

If you have a digital thermostat:

• Put in new batteries if the screen is blank. If the readout is displaying jumbled numbers, buy a new thermostat.
• Ensure the right setting is showing. If you can’t alter it, reverse it by lowering the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if scheduling is not right.
• Attempt to set the thermostat 5 degrees lower than the space’s temperature. Your AC won’t cool if the thermostat is identical to the space’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is calibrated properly, you should receive cold air quickly.

If you’re using a smart thermostat, such as one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, check the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you’re still having problems, reach us at (818) 727-9993 for support.

Your cooling equipment probably has a shut-down device near its outdoor unit. This switch is typically in a metal box hung on your home. If your air conditioner has recently been tuned up, the device may have accidentally been left in the “off” location.

Condensate drain pans hold the additional water your air conditioner pulls from the air. This pan can be situated either under or inside your furnace or air handler.

When there’s a clog or blocked drain, water can build up and prompt a safety setting to stop your unit.

If your pan has a PVC pipe or drain, you can get rid of the surplus condensation with a formulated pan-cleaning tab. You can purchase these capsules at a home improvement or hardware retailer.

If your pan has a pump, find the float switch. If the switch is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you might have to install a new pump. Reach us at (818) 727-9993 for help.

If your equipment is working but not delivering cold air, its airflow could be congested. Or it might not have enough refrigerant.

Your equipment’s airflow can be decreased by a plugged air filter or filthy condenser.

A dirty filter can create many problems, like:

• Reduced cooling
• Icy refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Intermittent cooling
• Larger electricity costs
• Leading your system to break down more quickly

We recommend changing flat filters monthly, and accordion filters every three months.

If you can’t remember when you last installed a new one, shut off your AC fully and take out the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It could also be situated in a connected filter holder or wall-mounted return air grille.

Hold the filter up to your light fixture. If you can’t see through it you certainly should replace it.

Brush, vegetation and sticks can get in the way of your condensing equipment. This could limit its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and impact your comfort. Here’s how you can get your unit working properly again.

1. Shut off the electrical current completely at the breaker or outdoor device.
2. Remove vegetation rubbish around the equipment. Once you’ve gotten rid of bigger clutter within a two-foot space, you can use a fine-bristled brush or vacuum to slowly clean the condenser fins. Misshapen fins can also hurt effectiveness, so you can attempt to adjust them with a blunt knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to gingerly remove gunk off the fins from inside the equipment. Be careful to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
4. Install the top again and turn the power back on.

When AC equipment doesn’t have ample refrigerant, they’ll struggle to remove heat and humidity from the air.

Here are a couple of signs that your equipment is leaking refrigerant:

1. It takes too long to lower the temperature in your home and you’re constantly turning down the thermostat.
2. Air coming through the ducts isn’t as cold as it should be.
3. You’re experiencing hissing or burbling racket when the air conditioning runs.
4. Your evaporator coil is frosted as a result of having trouble absorbing humidity.

Worried your system is seeping refrigerant? You need a qualified heating and cooling service professional to repair the leak and refill the correct amount of refrigerant in your equipment. Reach us at (818) 727-9993 for help.

When it seems like you’re not having adequate amounts of cold air, there’s probably a clog or detachment inside your air conditioning equipment.

• The initial step is looking at your air filter. Replace it if it’s soiled.
• Then check the ductwork is open across your house.
• If you’re still not getting enough chilly air, you should have your duct system checked by a specialist like Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating. Your ductwork might need to be fixed or reconnected in limited space locations like your attic, basement or crawl space.