In This Article: Is your AC not working? If your central air conditioner is not cooling right, save money, time, and get comfortable again with these expert DIY air conditioning repair techniques. If your AC is not working at all: 1. Be sure it is receiving power at the electrical panel. Reset the equipment’s switches and/or overloads. Check the thermostat settings.
If your AC is not cooling but runs: 1. Turn off the power. Look to see if ice has formed on the coils and, if it has, turn on the power and the fan to melt it.
Finally, check. Now, In-Depth Answers to Your AC Problems: Several different kinds of problems can occur with a central air-conditioning system. We discuss the following common ones below. ©Don Vandervort, HomeTips Clean the central air conditioning compressor, located outdoors, before every cooling season. AC not working at all.
AC not cooling well but runs. Room temperature too hot or too cold. Water leaks from air conditioner. Air conditioner makes strange noises.
Air conditioner won’t turn off Although a qualified air-conditioning repair person should handle certain types of central air conditioner repairs, you’ll find methods for handling simple repairs and maintenance yourself in this article. AC problems usually happen in a heat wave, when you need your AC the most and when HVAC repair people are very busy. It really pays to do your own repairs, both in cost savings and in getting your AC system back in working order as quickly as possible.
In addition to the information below, see these two articles for the general care and maintenance of your air conditioner:. Most noteworthy, you should replace the filters at least twice a year, before the heating and cooling seasons. For information on furnace problems, please see. Central AC Not Working At All If your central air conditioner won’t go on automatically when the thermostat signals the need for cooling. © Mariusz Blach Dreamstime.com First make sure the thermostat is set to “Cool” if your AC won’t go on.
If the breaker continues to trip, suspect a short in the system—in the compressor, capacitor, or the fan motor. Hire an electrician or HVAC contractor to track down and solve this problem. 2 Make sure the thermostat is set to COOL and its temperature setting is at least 3 degrees below the ambient room temperature.
3 Make sure the power is on. Check the switch in the furnace or air handler, and the outdoor compressor. Also make sure no one has shut off the compressor’s 240-volt disconnect, typically in a metal box mounted near the compressor. ©Don Vandervort, HomeTips Many electronic thermostats are made in two pieces: baseplate and body.
With this type, you pull the body straight out to remove it. 4 Remove the thermostat’s body after turning off the power to the air conditioner. Separate the body from the base (usually by pulling straight out) and replace the batteries (if it has batteries). Make sure all wires securely attach to their terminals and that the cover won’t pinch them. Replace the cover and wait 3 or 4 minutes, and then try the system again.
5 If that doesn’t do the job, open the thermostat and unscrew the wire from the Y terminal. Turn the power back on. Holding the wire by its insulation only, touch the bare end to the R terminal and hold it there for about two minutes. ©HomeTips The wires are located in the thermostat’s base. If the compressor kicks on when you do this, then the thermostat is faulty. Replace it as discussed in the article.
If the compressor doesn’t go on when you hold the Y wire to the R terminal, turn the power back off and either call an or check the capacitor as discussed next. 6 Last but not least, check the compressor’s capacitor and contactor. The capacitor is often the problem. The capacitor in the compressor (also called a run capacitor) starts both the condenser and the fan.
If the run capacitor has failed, the A/C unit will not run. It’s very easy to test whether it works and it is cheap and easy to replace it if it doesn’t. Is It the Run Capacitor or Contactor? But first, make sure the problem is the capacitor and not the contactor. If you hear clicking that is followed by a hum or buzz, you’re probably hearing the fan motor attempting to start without the boost it needs from the capacitor.
You can almost always conclude that the capacitor has failed. Sometimes you can get the compressor fan spinning (clockwise) by pushing it with a thin stick or long screwdriver poked through the grille. But the chances are good that this might work for one cycle, but the capacitor will fail next time the AC goes on. It’s best to replace the capacitor. If the compressor clicks when you turn on the thermostat but doesn’t hum or buzz, the contactor probably needs to be replaced. Following is how to replace both the capacitor and the contactor.
How to Test and Replace an AC Run Capacitor Before opening the electrical cover on the A/C unit, be sure to shut off all power to the compressor unit and the indoor furnace or air handler, and verify that it is off. Note that this may mean shutting off a circuit breaker that serves the furnace and air handler, and then, near the compressor, pulling out the disconnect block (or shutting off the 220-volt power) to the outdoor compressor. A capacitor usually fails when you need it most. When you explore your AC unit’s compressor to check out the capacitor, note the exact type and specifications.
Whether or not your capacitor has failed, order a replacement on to keep on hand for when you need it. To work safely and effectively, please watch the next three videos below before beginning.
Beware: An AC capacitor stores voltage and could shock you! Do not touch the terminals. Before working on it, discharge the capacitor as shown below. To get to the capacitor, remove the compressor unit’s access panel as shown in the capacitor testing and replacement videos below. Safely Discharge the AC Capacitor To discharge a run capacitor, wear safety glasses and gloves.
Hold the handle of an insulated electrical screwdriver (not touching the metal!), and use the screwdriver’s blade to bridge across the terminals on the capacitor. Be prepared for a spark! This video shows the techniques.
Test the Run Capacitor Standard capacitors have two terminals at the top, and dual capacitors have three terminals: one common terminal (C), one fan terminal (F), and one hermetic (Herm) terminal for the hermetically-sealed compressor. At the other end of the capacitor, the line-voltage wires connect to two additional terminals. Using a set to “Capacitance,” put one lead on the Common (C) terminal and the other lead on one of the other two terminals. The meter should show a number—not “OL” which indicates a short. Here is a video that shows more precisely how to test and replace a capacitor.
Tip: Take a quick digital photo of the wires before disconnecting them so you know where to replace them. Please note: If you don’t clearly understand how to properly and safely replace the capacitor, please call an HVAC pro. Still not working? Check and, if necessary, clean or replace the AC contactor. Also read “,” below.
Checking and Replacing the AC Contactor The contactor is essentially a switch that controls the compressor and the condenser fan motor. If it is fried or jammed with bugs and dirt, your AC won’t work. If the AC doesn’t run or hum but you hear it clicking, the contactor probably needs to be replaced.
Before working on this, be sure to shut off all power to the compressor unit and the indoor furnace or air handler, and verify that the power is off. Note: When working on the contactor, you will be working near the charged capacitor, which can shock you. Please see The following video shows you how to replace the contactor. We recommend that you take a photo of where the wires are connected to the contactor before removing them so you can see where they go on the new contactor. ©Don Vandervort, HomeTips Change filters to improve cooling. If you can hear your central air conditioner running, but it doesn’t cool well, make sure nothing is blocking or limiting air flow anywhere in the system—the air filters, registers, and the compressor.
For more about filters, see. A kinked refrigerant line, or a blower fan that isn’t running right can cause this, too. Next, check the air handler: How to Check the Indoor Air Handler 1 Turn off the power to the air conditioning air handler or furnace. If the air handler is a gas furnace, turn off the gas at the gas valve that serves the furnace. 2 Remove the door on the front of the air-handler cabinet so you can access the. Pull out the filter and clean or replace it as necessary. 3 Look for ice.
If you see ice in the area around the coils, close the unit back up, turn the power back on, and turn on the fan. The ice should melt within an hour or two. Ice In the AC Air Handler Only two things cause an AC air handler to freeze up: 1) reduced air flow because of dirty filters, coils, or poorly working fans, and 2) low refrigerant level, which a pro must check and, if necessary, recharge. More often than not, the problem comes from reduced air flow. Clear the Condensate Drain Air conditioners can create a lot of water because they remove moisture from the air.
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To get rid of this, they have a usually plastic drain pipe that comes out of the side of the air handler. Over time, algae can block this pipe and, when it does, the AC won’t work. In fact, some condensate drains have a float switch that won’t let the AC run if water backs-up.
Water can also puddle around the unit or flood the area. To deal with condensate problems, please see, below. How to Check the Outdoor AC Compressor 1 Turn off the power. Before cleaning the compressor, shut off all power to the compressor unit and the indoor air handler or furnace and verify that the power is off. 2 Clean the outdoor compressor. For complete instructions, please see. This video does a good job of showing you how to clean the coils.
3 Make sure the compressor is working. When you set the thermostat to a temperature below the room temperature, you should hear the outdoor compressor run and see the fan turning inside the top.
If the fan isn’t turning, look for an overload button or switch to reset (not all types have this). If your compressor doesn’t have an overload button and you hear it humming or buzzing, poke a screwdriver or stick down through the top grille and try to spin the fan blades clockwise. If doing this gives the fan enough of a boost to get it going, the unit has a faulty capacitor that must be replaced. 4 Finally, have the coolant checked. If none of these steps worked, the coolant may need recharging by an air conditioning professional.
Call a —this is not something you can do yourself. If your room has dramatic swings in temperature before the system kicks on, see. Air Conditioner Not Blowing Air If your AC doesn’t go on at all when you set the thermostat for a cooler-than-room temperature, please read, above. Then, if you have fairly good DIY skills and a digital multimeter, go through the diagnostic steps in this video to determine whether the problem may be a condensate pump switch. If Your Air Handler Doesn’t Blow Air Properly If the air handler doesn’t blow air properly, the indoor evaporator coil may be dirty or frozen up.
Reduced air flow, whether caused by dirty filters, a dirty coil, dirty squirrel cage blower, or a broken fan motor can cause the coil to freeze up, blocking air flow. © HomeTips.com Turn off the circuit breaker that serves the AC air handler. If your air handler’s motor runs but the blower doesn’t move air, the belt that connects the two probably has broken. Replacing it is an easy fix if you have a few tools and do-it-yourself skills. Replacing an AC Blower Belt Here’s how you can replace the air conditioner’s blower belt: 1 Turn off all power to the unit and, if the air handler is a gas furnace, turn off the gas at the gas valve that serves the furnace. 2 Remove the door on the front of the air-handler cabinet to give you access to the blower (it might be on a slide-out drawer.) Check the number stamped on the belt and get an exact replacement from a home center or heating supply outlet. HomeTips.com If necessary, loosen the motor mount to change the belt.
3 You can usually slip the belt on the motor’s (smaller) pulley first and then start it on the blower pulley, as shown at right. Rotate the blower pulley by hand, holding the belt in place but keeping your fingers from getting caught between the belt and the pulley. The belt should slip right into place.
Tempstar Furnace Troubleshooting
If it seems to be too tight or difficult to set in place, it may be necessary to adjust the motor mount to provide more slack. Then you can re-tighten the tension once the belt is in place. Check the manufacturer’s specifications for proper tension—in most cases, the belt should deflect about an inch when you press down on it. 4 Lubricate the blower. Finally, some blower motors need oiling.
Note: Those with sealed bearings don’t. If recommended by your maintenance manual, oil the bearings according to the manufacturer’s directions. AC Blower Hums But Doesn’t Run If the air handler’s blower motor hums but doesn’t run, you’ll probably need to replace the blower motor. This video shows how to replace the motor. © HomeTips.com Check the electrical panel for a circuit breaker that has kicked out. AC Air Handler Doesn’t Run If the air handler doesn’t run at all, it may not be receiving power.
Check its circuit breaker, and any switch that controls it at the air handler or furnace cabinet. Then check the door switch—a small switch inside the metal door that prevents the appliance from running when the cabinet is open. Also check the thermostat. For more, see, above. Water Leaking from AC Air conditioners and high-efficiency combustion furnaces create significant condensation—we’re talking about a lot of water, especially in humid climates—several gallons per day. Consequently, this water must exit the air handler—typically through plastic pipe or a drain tube.
That drain tube goes directly outside, often terminating near the compressor, or to a floor drain or to a small electric “condensate pump” located by the air handler. Where a condensate pump is used, it connects to a 1/2-inch vinyl or rubber tube that exits outdoors or to a drain. Water at the Base of the Air Handler Water dripping or pooling at the base of the air handler indicates: 1) a leak from one of the plastic pipes or tubes that carry it, 2) something may be blocking the water’s flow, or 3) the condensate pump may not be working. If the pump stops working, it will overflow. Rectorseal Float switch is designed to shut off the A/C unit if the drain becomes clogged. Click to buy on Amazon.
Condensate Float Switch & Pump On some air handlers, the condensation drainpipe has a small safety float switch (see photo) connected to it. If the drainpipe backs up with water, the float switch will shut off the air conditioner.
This is a sure sign that it’s time to clear the condensation drainpipe. 1 If your system includes an electric condensate pump, make sure it is connected to a working electrical outlet.
Troubleshooting Tempstar Furnace Problems
Then look to see if the tubing that carries away the water has come loose from the pump. If it has, reconnect it. More likely is the possibility that the tube or the pump is clogged with algae. If this is the case, use a wet-dry vacuum to suck all of the water out of the tube.
In some cases, it might be easier to replace it with new 1/2-inch tubing purchased online, at an HVAC supply shop, or at a well-stocked home improvement center. ©Don Vandervort, HomeTips The condensate pump, next to the air handler or furnace, is easy to replace. A new one costs about $50. Click to buy on Amazon.
2 Test the pump by pouring water into its collector. The pump, which is turned on by an inner ball float that rises with the water level, should start. A stuck or broken ball float won’t rise. If it’s stuck, disconnect the pump from the power and from the inbound tubes, disassemble the top, and clean it out thoroughly. With an old or broken float, you’re probably better off replacing the so you don’t have to do this again in the near future. To kill algae, pour a dilute solution of bleach (1 part bleach to 16 parts water) into the pump’s trough and pump it out through the tube.
Don’t do this on you lawn—it will kill the grass. 3 If the pump runs but doesn’t empty the trough, the ball-like check valve just before the discharge tube is probably stuck. Unscrew the check valve, loosen the ball inside, and look for an obstruction and a build-up of algae. If it appears that a condensation drain tube is clogged with algae, remove it if possible (you may have to cut it and replace it later with a coupling). Blow it out or run a wire through it to clear it—or, better still, replace it with new tubing.
4 Ice may be blocking the tube. If this is the case, clean or change your AC filters. If the filters appear to be fine, the air conditioner’s refrigerant supply is probably low. Call an to have the unit recharged. For more about filters, see. Air Conditioner Makes Noise Noises sometime occur in the indoor air handler, the outdoor compressor, or the ductwork. Air Handler or Furnace Makes Noise Problem noises in an air handler (or furnace cabinet) are squealing, grinding, and buzzing.
AC air handler squealing or grinding noises. Though most air handlers have direct-drive motors, some older units may be belt-driven. Squealing sounds from a belt-drive air handler generally occur when the belt that connects the motor to the blower slips. In most cases, the belt is improperly aligned or worn and needs replacement. Follow the instructions above under and refer to your owner’s manual. If a direct-drive blower is squealing or making a grinding noise, shut off the unit and—unless you’re an accomplished do-it-yourselfer—call an —the motor’s bearings are probably shot.
If you can handle this type of work, you can order and replace the motor. AC air handler buzzing sounds.
Do you hear a buzzing sound when you turn on the thermostat? The only thing that comes on in the house when you turn on the thermostat is the fan relay and fan in the air handler or furnace. Try switching the thermostat HEAT/COOL switch to OFF.
Then switch the fan switch from AUTO to ON. The fan (only) should come on. If the air handler makes a buzzing sound, it probably has a bad fan relay or, more likely, blower fan. Outdoor AC Compressor Makes Noise Outdoor compressors sometimes make buzzing, humming, or grinding noises. AC compressor buzzes. If the outdoor AC unit makes a buzzing sound, as though it wants to turn on but can’t, the run capacitor may be defective.
If that capacitor goes bad, the motor will overheat when it tries to turn on but can’t get started. When the motor overheats, a thermal overload switch will shut it off. When it buzzes, poke through the grille with a long screwdriver or stick to try to spin the fan clockwise (be careful!).
If it starts spinning, it will run for one cycle but then stop working again. This indicates that the capacitor is bad and needs to be replaced. (See, above.) AC compressor hums.If the outdoor compressor hums when you switch the thermostat to COOL, the problem could be a bad capacitor, as discussed immediately above, or the low voltage transformer on that unit—something that would need to be checked by a pro. AC compressor grinding noise. Over time, the bearings in the motor can wear out. The result is a grinding sound and, in many cases, the motor will overheat and shut off.
When this happens, it’s time to replace the motor. Noisy Ductwork Many heating/cooling ducts are metal so they conduct noise quite readily from the air-handling unit to your rooms. To break the conduction of sound, you can have a heating contractor insert flexible insulation ductwork between the heating/cooling system and the metal ductwork. Prim / Shutterstock.com Hire a pro for complex repairs.
Here, an HVAC professional checks the refrigerant levels in an air conditioning system. Ductwork pinging or popping. If you hear a pinging or popping sound coming from metal ductwork, this may be caused by thermal expansion or by air blowing past a loose flap of metal.
Track along the duct runs, listening for the sound. If you find it, make a small dent in the sheet metal to provide a more rigid surface that’s less likely to move as it heats and cools.
Furnace or air handler rattling ductwork. If the furnace makes rattling noises when it runs, be sure the cover panels are screwed on tight. If they aren’t, tighten them.
Air Conditioner Won’t Turn Off If your AC doesn’t turn off when room temperature reaches the temperature set on the thermostat, the problem is generally occurring either at the thermostat or in the electrical system that runs the outside condensing unit. You can use the AC’s circuit breaker to shut off the unit, but that should not be a permanent solution—circuit breakers are not designed to be used like light switches. If the thermostat is blank—not displaying any values—or if the AC shuts off when you switch the thermostat to HEAT, the thermostat is probably broken and needs to be replaced. If the thermostat works fine with the furnace, the issue probably isn’t the thermostat unless one of the wires has disconnected or arced. When the AC is running, try removing the yellow low-voltage wire from the thermostat.
Then: If the unit turns off, either the thermostat is broken or it is wired improperly. Make sure it is wired correctly—with no cross-connected wires. If the wiring appears to be okay, buy a new thermostat and install it according to the instructions. If the AC doesn’t turn off, it may be time to.
Dirty condenser coils won’t give off heat efficiently and will keep the unit running. Another possibility: The contacts on the outdoor run relay may have welded together—something that can happen over time because of frequent electrical arcing at the relay. Before checking the run relay, turn off the power to the furnace and the condensing unit. Next, disassemble the relay and pry apart the contacts. This should do the trick until you buy a replacement—which you should do soon. More Answers Below!
Hey, if we didn’t answer you question yet, check the conversation board at the bottom of this pagelots of new answers and help there!
Simple but not obvious; I have had some blower door safety switches have intermittent problems. When/if you have no heat and open that door to inspect, and reclose it you might reseat that switch and also you power down and back up which would reset a lockout condition. When I get a dead furnace call I go to the T-stat and try the fan switch. If the blower comes on then that confirms several things: 120 VAC to furnace Blower door switch is OK 24 VAC is OK The R and G wire at least are intact Older HW Smart Valves had problems with the main molex connector plug. Yours sounds fairly new being 2 stage.
When I get a dead furnace call I go to the T-stat and try the fan switch. If the blower comes on then that confirms several things: 120 VAC to furnace Blower door switch is OK 24 VAC is OK The R and G wire at least are intact That's the same same thing that I've done and taught my mechanics for over thirty years. In a few seconds, you've eliminated several potential causes that would take 30 minutes to check individually. It also confirms: 1.
The blower runs 2. The fan relay or board is calling for the blower to run. It works for diagnosing A/C, too. Does the unit operate on just low fire? That system will start on high fire then drop to low fire if no hi fire call.
There are two pressure switches one for low fire one for high fire. The eight flash usually indicate the hi fire pressure switch is closed when it should be open.
Some of these furnaces had problems with the draft inducer not getting up to full speed on high fire. You need to check the pressure differential across the pressure switches the low switch is.58' W.C. And the high switch 1.38' W.C. What others said about condensate line and secondary heat exchanger need to be looked at. You have a internal condensate trap system. Clean and check all the drain tubes to the center trap. Sounds like pressure switch is sticking, furnace is 11 years old, may want to get new pressure switches if venting and drains are all clear of condensate, and there is no blockage of any type.
Venting should be sloped to the furnace and both pipes should have clean and clear passages. 1/4' tubes to the switches should not have any condensate in them at any time. I cleaned out the condensate trap. Will see if it happens again. Tough part is it only stops working once every few weeks. I am correct to say pressure switches should be not the problem since it's the first fan that won't turn on (the venting fan I believe it's called).
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I checked the 1/4' tubes and they do not have condensate in them. Does the unit operate on just low fire? That system will start on high fire then drop to low fire if no hi fire call. There are two pressure switches one for low fire one for high fire.
The eight flash usually indicate the hi fire pressure switch is closed when it should be open. Some of these furnaces had problems with the draft inducer not getting up to full speed on high fire. You need to check the pressure differential across the pressure switches the low switch is.58' W.C. And the high switch 1.38' W.C.
What others said about condensate line and secondary heat exchanger need to be looked at. When the furnace does not work, the draft inducer fan does not turn on at all, once molex connector is reset, the whole thing works. What I was asking is when you found the furnace not working did you always see a light at the valve?
Fire in chamber? The board does send power to the valve via the molex connector. Loose or poor connection there would cause no light/power at the valve. Still looking at the pressure switch. That furnace has 2 switches the top switch is the high fire switch.
You can actually disconnect it and the furnace will work but only in low fire. Which is probably if size correctly 90% of the time. With that being said, your problem will only arise when you need second stage. It will flash 8 and still run in low fire as long as the bottom pressure switch is ok. The furnace probably wont maintain your house at your setpoint temp tho. Are you on LP gas? If so there is another pressure switch involved also.
That one should be wired to the bottom switch if installed correctly. Are you able to ohm out the switches? That is really what should be done first. Do this during all stages of operation, low, high, and off. When the furnace does not work, from the first time it happened, the valve blinks with the 8 code. During that time, there is no fire in chamber and no inducer motor running. There is a call for heat from the T-stat.
I just ran the furnace and timed: everything was normal up until 12 minute mark, something turned up higher (not the main blower fan, was either the gas or the inducer) however after one minute of that, the flame shut off completely, the blower stayed on low and then it begun a normal low cycle again. This is different from the times it does not work however. When it does not work there is no flame at all and no inducer at all until molex is reset. Sounds like you may have a single stage stat?
Is there a wire connected to W2 at the furnace. 12 minute mark usually is a internal timer that if furnace doesn't satisfy at low fire for a set period of time it will automatically go to high fire. Need to check high fire press switch! Now you just brought on other issues that may or maynot be related. The pressure switch should be checked like Tim said! Filter system checked Secondary checked, pull blower and clean secondary Return and supply duct/registers checked, all clear and open. Combustion checked Rollout, main limit trips are serious and should be checked by a professional.
There seems to be more going on here than appears from this angle. The Smart Valves had a known issue.bit me more than once.no heat call.walk up to furnace, inducer not running, pressure switch fault.
Unplug Molex from gas valve and plug back in.furnace fires and runs full cycle.stick around.fires up again runs full cycle.stick around.furnace runs full cycle again. Charge customer minimum service charge as connector was just loose. Two days later.call back.exact same issue. After this happened to me 3 times I started changing the smart valve out.no callbacks.
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