Fill out your email below to get exclusive deals only available to our email buddies. Make sure you remember which wire goes where (consider taking a picture with your phone). To find out whether your motor still has some life left in it, you can do a capacitor test. If your thermostat isn’t functioning correctly, then it may not send the proper cooling instructions to your AC unit. You could get your AC unit started back up right now. Check to see if you need to reset a breaker. That’s why you feel such a sense of panic when you stand in front of the thermostat wondering why your AC won’t turn on. Or see THERMOSTAT WON'T TURN ON FAQs - questions and answers posted originally on this page. First, simply set the thermostat to the right temperature and setting. If your thermostat is secured correctly to the wall this clicking sound shouldn’t be very loud. It depends how knowledgeable you are about home things but start by looking at the thermostat and see if its set low enough to turn the air on, also if its a heat/cool t-stat make sure its set to cool, then make sure the breakers or fuses are on, then if it does work make sure the filter on the furnace or air handler is clean, if it don't work by then you need to call a professional. If the drain line becomes clogged, however, then the pump won’t be able to remove condensate. But if you hear a loud clicking noise and the AC won’t turn on, it could mean the thermostat is malfunctioning. But when your air filters are dirty, the water droplets will freeze, covering the coils with layers of ice. Regardless of the reason, if the breaker that provides power to your AC unit trips, the air conditioner won’t turn on. After reassembling the components, reintroduce a little moisture to the tray to make sure everything works properly. If your AC won’t turn on, the team at Energy Air can help right away. It’s usually located on the upper component box within the access panel. The Thermostat Is on the Wrong Setting Sure, it sounds like a no-brainer, but the reason your AC won’t turn on might just be that the thermostat is on the wrong setting. These steps haven’t exhausted all the possible quick fixes; just the ones you should try yourself. The blower fan in your air conditioning is a separate electrical system from the cooling unit. When this happens, the unit will keep running as it works harder. This drain line harmlessly deposits the condensation outside of the unit. While you have the access panel open, locate your unit’s condensation pump. Even if the AC unit is perfectly functional, it will never turn on because it doesn’t know that you’re telling it to! Below are the most common reasons your AC won’t turn on. If you want to test it, set it for a low temperature, so that the AC unit would start right away. In this case, you need an experienced HVAC service professional to find and repair the leak and restore the refrigerant to the correct level. Air-conditioning unit on the outside won't come on - fan inside works fine. This can happen due to too many electrical appliances being active at … Then, disconnect the drain line and use the hand vac to suction out clogs inside it. 13 Answers. Circuit breakers trip to protect your fixtures when they sense a surge of dangerous amounts of electricity. Check the outdoor cooling or condensing unit to see if it’s running. What would cause the air-conditioning unit not to come on. Take a picture, write it down, or take the actual capacitor with you when you buy a replacement. Refrigerant is coolant. The same way air filters get dirty, so do condenser lines. The most common reason that your Air Conditioner fan won’t turn off is because a stuck relay keeping the circuit closed. As the air conditioning system cools down, the blower fan pulls the warm air from inside of your home, runs it through the air conditioning system, and then blows the now cool air back out into your home. Schedule Service Online It protects your home from fires. The air conditioner’s internal gas is necessary for the cooling process. If it doesn't have one, you can turn off the AC at the thermostat and turn it back on in 5 to 10 minutes. Be aware this can take up to 24 hours. Overall, how many problems do you have with electric appliances in your home? hvac1000 Posts: 14,540, Reputation: 435. The tripped breaker will be shifted down to the “OFF” position rather than the “ON” position, and may also be indicated by a red warning label. The condenser unit won’t turn on: If your condenser unit won’t turn on at all, you may have a faulty motor or the unit may not be receiving power. Another indication is the blowing of warm air from the indoor unit. If you often experience any of these, you’ll need an electrician to fix the underlying cause. This pump removes moisture that builds up on the unit’s condensation tray by pumping it through the drain line. If it is, then go outside to check the condensate pump and the electrical connections. If you have a hand vac, suction out any excess moisture in the tray. If the Inside AC Unit’s Not Turning On… Similar to the outside unit, if the inside air handler/evaporator unit of your cooling system won’t turn on, or stops working entirely, check the circuit box and power supply. If one of them doesn’t beep, you can purchase a replacement at a hardware store. When temperatures soar past the 100-degree mark, you need it to keep family and pets safe. If nothing seems wrong with your thermostat, there is one relatively simple way to test it. When this happens, you can easily reset it after locating the circuit breaker panel. The thermostat reaches the desired temperature, the indoor unit shuts off, the air stops blowing, but the outdoor unit keeps on running. Finally, try testing the unit’s dual run capacitor. My outside AC unit wont cut on but the fan in the house blows when i turn it on. And your significant other won’t … Turn off both the power to your AC unit and your thermostat. If there was a power surge, your air conditioner … Orlando: (407) 886-3729 | Tampa: (813) 922-3375. If you find that the AC unit still does not work, the next probable cause is the thermostat. Test both fuses. When your air conditioner refuses to start, take a … Circuit breakers are designed to shut off when they’re receiving an electricity overload. Don’t lose the screws! Re-mount the new capacitor back in the upper component box. To find out whether your fuses are working properly, you’ll need a multimeter to do a continuity test. This happens occasionally. Look for a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker. And if it has affected your AC unit, you’ll need an HVAC professional to run a diagnostic test. While most modern air conditioning systems can last up to 20 years, even the most maintained systems will need a repair from time to time. Find your main electrical service panel and look for tripped breakers. How to Fix a Frozen AC Unit? Check that your thermostat has power, and if it doesn’t, swap the old batteries for a new set. Call or Click 24/7 Plumbing & Drain CleaningCall to Learn More About Career Opportunities. This is the rating you’ll need to know to buy your replacement capacitor. You’ll need a screwdriver. Orlando: (407) 886-3729 | Tampa: (813) 922-3375. Essentially, your AC is full of components that are prone to debris build up. So when your AC won’t turn on (especially during the summer), it’s easy to bypass any feelings of serenity and go to straight to panic mode. If you set the thermostat a few degrees higher, you will save energy and a lot of money when it comes time to pay your electric bill. How often do you change your air filters? Tripped circuit breakers cut all electricity off to the fixture they’re protecting until you reset them. Next, make sure your thermostat is functioning properly. Malfunctioning thermostats are usually easy to spot. Once you’ve figured out why your AC unit won’t turn on, fixing it can often be surprisingly easy. Under normal circumstances, an AC would absorb humidity from your home. Usually when the outdoor unit doesn’t turn on, it is because the circuit breaker has been tripped. What Are The Reasons For The Outdoor Unit To Not Run But The Indoor Unit To Run? The only reason behind low levels of refrigerant is the presence of leakage somewhere. Finding, testing, and even replacing the Dual Run Capacitor in your AC unit is easy. Relevance. Your thermostat is an integral part of your AC system, since it’s the control panel for this appliance. When the drain line becomes clogged, a safety switch trips and shuts down your air conditioner. I've been searching around and saw that in most cases, either the inside or the outside unit won't turn on, but I have not found a case where both won't turn on. Tripped circuit breakers are surprisingly common. Take down your thermostat and open up the access compartment in the back. What causes a thermostat to malfunction? Schedule Service Online If the outside unit stops working, but the inside unit is still running, with the blower fan operating, you’re still out of luck. First, turn off the power to your thermostat (THIS IS IMPORTANT). If the outside unit still isn't running after you try these steps, contact Rescue Air Heating and Cooling immediately. If the air conditioner runs constantly, here’s what to do: Turn up the thermostat. When an AC unit is working properly, there’s no need to add refrigerant. These capacitors sit inside the AC unit’s access panel split power to supply the fan and compressor at once. Let’s look at some AC basics: Clean air filters ensure proper airflow. Do appliances make a humming sound when you first plug them in? Schedule your next appointment with one of our trained technicians today. If you’ve tried each of these common troubleshooting steps and you still can’t get your AC unit to turn on, don’t panic! The reason your air conditioner won't turn on could be because the condensate drain line is clogged. Finally, try testing the unit’s dual run capacitor. If you don’t have a hand vac, use water or compressed air. AC unit won't turn on: both inside blower fan and outside fan unit won't turn on. If you have an infant or an older family member, it’s also essential for their overall health. Here’s how to do it step by step: What you’ll need: a screwdriver or nut driver (depending on your unit), pliers, and a duster of some kind. You can clean them by locating your AC condenser unit outside your home, lifting the lid, and using a wet/dry vac and DIY vac or distilled white vinegar to get rid of the debris inside. The fan switch on the thermostat is in the auto position, not the on position. Thank you. When I turn my ac on, the fan turns on n air comes out the vent, but its not cool and the unit outside wont cut on. When this happens, try the following: • Make sure the AC hasn’t been turned off. If the display won’t turn on, it doesn’t respond to inputs, or it immediately loses programming, then something’s wrong. If it’s not the relay, your thermostat likely has a shorted cable or needs to be replaced. Your central electrical panel splits electricity from your main distribution line out to every electrical fixture throughout your home. 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