There was a time when air conditioning was a luxury; now it has become a necessity. A room can become miserably uncomfortable when an air conditioner unit is not working, especially if temperatures are high. Troubleshooting an air conditioner does not require much skill if you know what to look for. Some air conditioner unit troubleshooting tips can help.
Check the Operating System
If the air conditioner unit will not run at all, determine which modes of operation are working and which are not. Turn on the unit fan and check the heating and cooling modes. If the fan is not working, make sure the power supply to the unit is operating. Check the circuit breaker to see if it has been tripped, or if a fuse has been blown. Examine the power cord or current interruptor to see if it needs to be reset. Just push the reset button to get it going again.
Check the Circuit Breaker
If a fuse has been blown in the circuit, replace it. If the circuit is the correct size, then proceed with resetting the circuit breaker. If the circuit breaker trips again, shut off the power and examine all the wiring in the air conditioner unit. Check for damaged or loose connections.
Check the Run Capacitors
If the circuit breaker has not been tripped and the fan is still not operating, examine the run capacitors for the compressor and fan. If the run capacitors are good but the fan motor will not operate, examine the fan motor and the fan switch. Check the fan blades to make sure they are not being obstructed by anything and can spin freely.
Check the Compressor
If the fan motor is operating but the compressor will not start, examine the compressor with your hands. If the compressor is really hot, let it cool for awhile. Then start the air conditioner unit on the cool mode. After you turn it on, listen for any clicking sounds that might indicate the compressor is trying to start. If the compressor does start but will not properly cool, the air conditioner unit might need more refrigerant. If the compressor tries to start but then shuts off quickly, you could have a bad compressor. If would be more economical to replace the entire air conditioner unit than to replace the compressor.
Maintain the Air Conditioner
To keep your air conditioner functioning properly in the future, check and clean the foam filter monthly. Open the front panel of the unit, and remove the air filter. Use a soft brush to clean the filter under running water. Replace the filter when it starts to deteriorate.
Tags: conditioner unit, circuit breaker, been blown, been tripped, breaker been, breaker been tripped
