Air Conditioner Won’t Turn On…What Do I Do?

I have the unfortunate tendency to get cold really easily.  When the weather is really cold outside I can feel my back aching because it is tensing up so much.  When I walk inside, I can immediately feel all of that tension release and pain go away.  Now that we have started to feel some relief from the harshness of this past winter, it almost seems like the entire world is releasing all of its tension.  People have a smile on their faces, they enjoy being outside and the daylight lasting longer means that you can see families and couples walking around in the evening.

Though I love warm temperatures there comes a time when the temperature gets a little too warm.  This is when air conditioning comes in.  However, on that day, when the sun is blazing and you are sweating, what do you do if your air conditioner does not turn on?

First of all, check your thermostat.  Is it set to below the current room temperature or to cool?  If not, set your thermostat at a cooler temperature.

If that does not work, check the electrical panel.  Just like when you have lights that will not turn on or an outlet that does not work, the air conditioner’s fuse could be blown or the breaker could be switched to off.  If so, make sure they are all the way off and then flip the breaker back to “on.”

Also, sometimes there is a disconnect box with outdoor fuses for the air conditioner right by the unit.  Make sure to also check those-you may have to get new fuses.  However, it is probably a good idea to turn those fuses off before checking them.

Last but not least, check your filters.  Often, your furnace and air conditioner share the same duct work and therefore the same filter.  So even though it is sweltering hot, your furnace still plays an intricate part in keeping your home cool.  Make sure the one or both filters are clean.  A dirty filter restricts airflow and causes your unit to not work well or not at all.

If you have no success after all of these steps, your best bet is to contact a certified technician like the ones at FLAME.  If you have any more questions, please contact FLAME!