AC Repair in Des Moines, IA: How to Fix 3 Frequent Issues

There can be several reasons why your air conditioning system won’t start: a triggered circuit breaker, inaccurate thermostat settings, a switched off switch or an overfull condensate drain pan.

Your air conditioner won’t run when you have a tripped breaker.

To see if one has gotten overloaded, go to your house’s main electrical panel. You can spot this metallic device on the wall in the basement, garage or closet.

• Make sure your hands and feet are free of moisture before you work on the panel or breakers.
• Find the breaker identified “AC” and make sure it’s in the “on” spot. If it’s overloaded the switch will be in the in between or “off” spot.
• Steadily shift the breaker back to the “on” spot. If it instantaneously triggers again, don’t reset it and call us at 515-344-3579. A switch that keeps turning off might signal your residence has electrical trouble.

If your thermostat isn’t signaling your system to start, it won’t switch on.

The most important point is ensuring it’s on “cool” and not “heat.” Otherwise your air conditioner may not switch on. Or you may get. warm air blowing from vents because the furnace is running instead.

If you’re using a traditional thermostat:

• Put in new batteries if the screen is blank. If the screen is presenting scrambled characters, get a new thermostat.
• Check the proper mode is on the display. If you can’t alter it, override it by lowering the temperature and hitting the “hold” button. This will force your AC to work if programming is incorrect.
• Try setting the thermostat 5 degrees cooler than the house’s temperature. Your AC won’t start if the thermostat matches the house’s temperature.

Once your thermostat is adjusted accurately, you should receive refreshing air quickly.

If you have a smart thermostat, including ones made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch, look at the manufacturer’s website for help. If it still won’t work, contact us at 515-344-3579 for help.

Your AC probably has a shut-off lever near its outside unit. This switch is typically in a metal box attached to your residence. If your equipment has recently been fixed, the device may have inadvertently been put in the “off” location.

Condensate drain pans catch the extra liquid your equipment pulls from the air. This pan can be found either below or within your furnace or air handler.

When there’s an obstruction or blocked drain, water can build up and trigger a safety control to switch off your equipment.

If your pan includes a PVC pipe or drain, you can drain the additional water with a custom pan-cleaning tab. You can get these capsules at a home improvement or hardware shop.

If your pan involves a pump, locate the float switch. If the lever is “up” and there’s liquid in the pan, you may need to install a new pump. Contact us at 515-344-3579 for help.

If your AC is on but not delivering cold air, its airflow could be obstructed. Or it might not have enough refrigerant.

Your equipment’s airflow can be restricted by a plugged air filter or dirty condenser.

A dusty filter can create a lot of troubles, including:

• Lower cooling
• Frosted refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
• Intermittent cooling
• Higher energy bills
• Causing your system to break down more quickly

We recommend installing new flat filters every four weeks, and creased filters every three months.

If you can’t remember when you last changed yours, shut off your AC totally and pull out the filter. You can spot the filter in your furnace or air pump’s blower compartment. It might also be found in an adjoining filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.

Hold the filter up to the sunshine. If you can’t see any light you need to get a new one.

Greenery, plants and leaves can get in the way of your condensing system. This could restrict its airflow, impact its energy efficiency and change your comfort. Here’s a method you can follow to get your system running well again.

1. Shut off power totally at the breaker or external device.
2. Remove yard rubbish around the unit. Once you’ve gotten rid of all the clutter within a two-foot area, you can use a soft brush or vacuum to slowly remove dust from the condenser fins. Bent fins can also impact capability, so you can attempt to straighten them with a small knife.
3. Use a hose nozzle to gingerly take off dirt on the fins from inside the system. Make sure to avoid getting moisture on the fan motor.
4. Put the top back on and restore the power.

When cooling equipment doesn’t have sufficient refrigerant, they’ll struggle to remove heat and humidity from your rooms.

Here are a few signs that your equipment is leaking refrigerant:

1. It takes an extended amount of time to lower the temperature in your home and you’re constantly lowering the thermostat.
2. Cooling coming through the vents isn’t as cold as it should be.
3. You’re noticing hissing or bubbling sounds when the air conditioning works.
4. Your evaporator coil is iced over as a result of having an issue taking on heat.

Worried your equipment is seeping refrigerant? You need a licensed heating and cooling service specialist to take care of the leak and replenish the correct measurement of refrigerant in your equipment. Call us at 515-344-3579 for help.

When it feels like you’re not having adequate amounts of cold air, there’s likely a blockage or separation inside your air conditioning unit.

• The first step is checking your air filter. Replace it if it’s soiled.
• Then make sure the registers are free across your home.
• If you’re still not experiencing ample chilly air, you should have your duct system inspected by a specialist like Heartland Heating & Cooling. Your duct system could need to be serviced or reconnected in limited space spots like your attic, basement or crawl space.