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Common Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner Won’t Turn On

professional check an air conditioner

Air conditioners are the lifeline of almost every home in the summer season. No one can live a comfortable life in scorching heat and humidity without it. Almost everyone expects that when you turn on your AC, it will work perfectly every time as it is the one that will offer your peaceful sleep every night.

But sometimes, this HVAC unit can leave you side and don’t turn on. So, if you are facing a similar situation, then don’t ignore. It can be due to some common problems that can be fixed quickly as a DIY solution or call a professional air conditioning service in San Diego.

So, let’s start and find out why your AC won’t turn on: –

Thermostat Problems

The thermostat of your AC helps connect with your unit. So, if the thermostat is not working correctly, there is no way your AC will switch on.

When you notice that the thermostat is switched off or showing a blank display, try to switch it on. If it is not switching on, there may be a problem with the battery. Make sure to replace the batteries in the thermostat. After this, try to switch it on; if not, it indicates that your thermostat needs replacement.

You need to call AC repair services in San Diego, as they will arrive in no time and look into technical problems.

Faulty Control Board

Almost every air conditioner these days has a control board or PCB assembly, and this element controls all the different small elements of the AC unit. Because of this reason, it is pretty complex to find out where the exact problem lies.

The solution to this problem is to check whether the compressor or fan circuits are not turning on. If it is not the case, the control board is more likely the culprit for you sweating it out in the heat.

Moreover, there can be a problem with a blown internal fuse which you can replace yourself. If not, then don’t hesitate to call the pros of All Star Plumbing & Restoration.

The AC’s Capacitor Is Not Working

If your AC unit has some trouble when it starts and stops frequently or is giving some clicking noises, then there are fair chances that your AC’s capacitor has failed.

The capacitor of the AC plays an essential part in starting the unit as it is connected to the motor’s circuit and gives the motor an initial push when starting. However, the capacitor disconnects from the circuit when the motor reaches a specific speed. There are many reasons why capacitors fail, like overheating or exposure to the sun.

Apart from that, power outages and power fluctuations can also damage the capacitor. In addition to that, the age of the capacitor can be another reason for its failure. The solution to capacitor failure is replacing it with an air conditioning repair service in San Diego.

Remember one thing: don’t try to replace the capacitor yourself as it has an electrical charge stored in it, because of which there is a risk of severe electric shock.

Why AC Won't Kick On

Circuit Breaker Tripped

This is another common problem that won’t turn on your HVAC unit. Often, you use too many electrical appliances at one time because of circuit breaker trips. Apart from that, the circuit breaker trips when power surges after a storm.

In this case, first, find your electrical panel and check whether the AC switch is on or off. If it is in an off position, turn it on. If the circuit breaker trips repeatedly, do not try again to switch it on. Due to some reason, the circuit is overloading, and switching it on can cause an electrical short circuit.

However, the best solution to this problem is to call the professional air conditioning service provider in San Diego as they are highly skilled, experienced, and qualified and will fix the problem with due care.

Clogged Drain Line

If your AC is not turning on, then the condensate drain line could be clogged, causing the actual problem. The HVAC unit creates condensation, which in turn goes through a drain line. However, if this line gets clogged, the system won’t turn on as the safety switch will trip to prevent you from damage or danger.

The simple solution to this problem is to unclog the drain line. To unclog it, you can use a vacuum cleaner or some suction to open it back again. If you don’t want to take a do-it-yourself approach, you can call a professional technician to do the needful.

You Have A Blown Fuse

This can be another reason why your AC is not turning on? For this, you have to check whether both the fuses are working correctly or not. To check this, take the multimeter and go for a continuity test. If the multimeter beeps, the fuses are working correctly; if not, you have to replace the fuse with a new one that you can buy from the hardware store.

Dormancy Issues

If you are not aware of why your HVAC unit is not turning on, check the fan. That means seeing whether the fan is on; if not, it could be a dormancy problem. In other words, in winters, we cannot use AC because the fans find it hard to start rotating just because of dirt build-up.

The solution to this problem is calling an air conditioning repair service in San Diego as they very well know how to start the AC fan manually.

Condenser Unit Unplugged

Another reason your AC is not turning on is that the condenser unit is unplugged. For this, visually inspect the cord coming out of the AC. The issues can be very simple as the AC is not plugged, especially when owning a window unit.

In most cases, there is a small brown cord coming from the AC directly connected to a panel on the side of your house. This wire can become unplugged or chewed through because of which the flow of electricity stops, preventing the AC from switching on.

Damaged Motor

If you notice or hear grinding noise when you turn on the AC, it is not a good sign as it indicates malfunctioning of motor blades. AC motors are sealed to prevent any outside air, water, and debris. With time, this seal may come off due to old age or lack of maintenance, and the oil which lubricates the motor blades seeps out.

The AC motor can wear out without the oil and stop working completely. Hence, you have to contact an HVAC specialist or AC repair experts in San Diego to inspect the unit and solve the problem.

Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is the HVAC unit coolant. However, you don’t have to add this regularly like a car. If your AC is working correctly, you don’t have to add refrigerant. But if your AC has a Freon leak, your system will not work and cause refrigerant poisoning.

This type of problem can only be attended to or fixed by HVAC professionals instead of trying your DIY methods.

Uncleaned Condenser

Is your external HVAC unit not turning on? Then there may be issues with the condenser. The external or outside unit of the air conditioner is called a condenser, and its main work is to release heat collected by the inside unit to the outdoor environment.

If you don’t maintain the condenser regularly, the condenser will get dirty with time. That means it will work harder to disperse the heat as dirt act as the insulator. Which results in drawing too much current, tripping the circuit breaker, and finally, AC will not turn on.

Well, if you think that you can clean the condenser yourself, then it’s too late as of now. That means once the condenser gets non-functional due to heavy dirt, you have to call a professional AC conditioning repair service in San Diego.

The Bottom Line

No one would like to bear discomfort as the AC unit is not turning on in the summer season. That’s why it becomes essential to keep your AC in good condition so that you will not suffer from scorching heat. If your AC doesn’t turn on by chance, then All Star Plumbing & Restoration will always be there for your help 24/7.