Why is Your AC Not Working?

Air Conditioning systems have become part of many homeowners’ lifestyles, especially during the hot Calgary summers. Since the summer period is unavoidable, we have to blend in and find ways to cool the indoors of our homes. This article centers on AC not working in house. 

AC’s usually tend not to work or break down when someone needs them the most. Most people don’t understand how to troubleshoot an air conditioner.

Troubleshooting an air conditioner takes knowledge about its components, how it works, and the possible complications that can cause your AC to malfunction.

Parts of Your AC

Understanding how your air conditioning system cools your home can help to understand the parts of your ac.  The main parts of an air conditioner include

• the air filter,
• thermostat,
• indoor air-handler,
• evaporation coil, and
• refrigerant lines linking the outdoor and indoor ductwork of your system.

Since the system is a network of components, a single breakdown in any part might be the root of the mechanical chaos your AC is experiencing. If the AC is not working in the house, you’ll have to begin with troubleshooting it first to figure out what the cause for the problem might be.

Related: How Much Does an Air Conditioner Cost?

Why My AC is Not Working

After realizing that your AC has stopped cooling the house or it won’t turn on anymore, you’ll have to take a step. We believe you can troubleshoot the system yourself first before contacting any professionals or your HVAC technicians.

You might have a clogged filter, an incorrect thermostat configuration, or even refrigerant leakages that might be hindering your AC’s efficiency. Therefore, we advise you to consider checking the following factors before reaching out to your manufacturers or HVAC experts.

Improper thermostat configuration

Whenever you find that the room is not at the right temperature, check the thermostat. Did you set the thermostat to the right temperature? Next, make sure that the thermostat is ON and running. If not, switch it ON. The AC should start blowing cold air moments after.

Clogged air filter

Since the AC’s air filter is responsible for maintaining indoor air quality, it has to trap all the dirt, debris, and dust in the incoming air into the cooling system. Suppose the dirt accumulates and clogs your filter. In that case, you must clean it or change it to prevent airflow complications that might affect the general cooling process.

If the filter is blocked, either clean it or repair it. A clogged filter limits the amount of air coming into your AC, thus reducing the cooling impact.

Refrigerant leak

Refrigerant leaks are amongst the least noticed when it comes to troubleshooting your cooling system by yourself. However, refrigerant leaks are a severe problem, and experts should handle them.

The refrigerant in your AC plays the role of absorbing heat from the incoming air inside the ductwork then delivering the heat outdoors upon shifting from a liquid into gas. Homeowners should check their refrigerant levels to make sure it’s still constant and not used up.

If the refrigerant level drops anyhow, then you must be experiencing a leakage. Having refrigerant leaks might be one of the reasons why your AC is not working in the house.

Leaking ductwork

Your air conditioner’s ductwork is the backbone of the whole cooling process. The ductwork is responsible for circulating the cooled air around your home and sucking the warm indoor air into the central unit for cooling.

Leaking ductwork allows the cool air to escape before it cools your house. If you suspect leakage in your ductwork, you’ll have to contact a technician to perform the fix or advise you about duct replacement if necessary.

A blown fuse

Why is my AC not working in my house? Your AC might not be working due to a blown fuse or its literal fuse (linked to the thermostat).

In such a case, replace the fuse. Do not attempt fixing the AC fuse yourself unless you’re an experienced and specialized technician. Contact your local HVAC company to help you resolve the problem.

AC Not Working in House – Conclusion

Lastly, we advise you to schedule an annual maintenance appointment to ensure that any damaged parts of the system are repaired and even replaced if necessary. Regular maintenance will minimize your repair and operation costs since your Air conditioner will be running efficiently throughout the year.

If you realize that your cooling system or AC is not working in the house, try the troubleshooting steps mentioned above. If that doesn’t work, contact an HVAC professional.