There’s nothing worse than your air conditioner breaking down in the middle of a scorching hot Oklahoma summer. If your AC has suddenly stopped turning on, you need to find a solution fast so you can keep your family safe and comfortable in the summer heat.
The first step toward fixing your broken air conditioner is figuring out what’s causing the problem. Once you know why your AC won’t turn on, you can implement the right fix, whether that’s an AC repair or a system replacement.
Here are some of the most common problems we see with AC systems that won’t turn on:
1. Missed Maintenance Visits
Skipping your annual HVAC service visit can cause serious problems for your air conditioner and even contribute to a complete breakdown. If you haven’t had your air conditioner serviced in a few years, the lack of maintenance could be why your air conditioner won’t turn on. Once you have your broken AC repaired or replaced, make sure you schedule regular maintenance visits to prevent another breakdown in the future.
2. Power Connection
When you’re doing any sort of AC troubleshooting, your power connection is one of the first things you should check. Tripped breakers and blown fuses are common during the summer months when your air conditioning is running frequently, due to circuit overload. A power surge can also cause a blown fuse or a tripped breaker.
If you feel comfortable, you may be able to fix a blown fuse or a tripped breaker yourself. If you don’t have much experience, however, it will be easier and safer to hire an electrician.
If the problem keeps happening, there may be a more serious underlying problem, and you should call a professional AC repair company for help.
3. Thermostat Issues
Oftentimes, what looks like an issue with your air conditioner is actually an issue with your thermostat. Your thermostat controls your air conditioner, telling it when to turn on, when to turn off, and how long to run. If your thermostat is not working properly, it won’t be able to control your air conditioner effectively. Here are some common thermostat issues to check for:
- Dead batteries - Replace the batteries and you should be good to go.
- A blank screen - It may have been accidentally turned off. You just need to turn it back on again.
- Wrong mode - Make sure your thermostat is set to “cool” not “heat.”
4. Clogged Condensate Drain Line
When your air conditioner is running, it doesn’t just cool your home; it also pulls humidity out of the air. This creates condensation, which is removed by a condensate drain line. If the condensate drain line becomes clogged, several problems can occur, including a system shutdown (many homes have a safety switch to shut off the AC if the drain is clogged to prevent water damage).
Having the drain unclogged should solve the problem. Hiring a professional HVAC company to clean your condensate drain line will ensure that no additional problems will arise.
5. The Emergency Switch Is Off
Most central air conditioning systems have an emergency shut-off switch located near the outdoor unit. If this switch has been flipped off, your air conditioning won’t turn on. If you recently had work done on your HVAC system or your home’s exterior, it’s possible that the technician flipped your AC’s emergency switch off and forgot to turn it back on. Put the switch back in place and your AC should run fine. However, if the switch is faulty it may have shut off on its own. For safety purposes, you may want to call a professional HVAC company.
Get AC Help Fast in Oklahoma
When you need to get your AC to turn on, Pippin Brothers is here for you. We are a local HVAC contractor that is committed to helping our customers in Lawton, Duncan, and Fort Sill, Oklahoma stay safe and comfortable in their homes. Our technicians are trained to service all types of air conditioning systems, including central ACs, heat pumps, and mini splits, and we’ll help you get your air conditioning back on track fast. We offer air conditioning maintenance, repair, and replacement, and will help you find a solution that works for your home and budget.