What to Do When Your AC Outdoor Unit Does Not Turn On

You rely on your air conditioners to stay cool during the sweltering summer months. So, if an outdoor AC unit isn’t going on, it’s critical to determine why and find a remedy as quickly as possible.

If your air conditioner has a split cooling system,  an interior evaporator, and an outdoor compressor or condenser, they should work together.

If both elements are not operating in tangent, the air conditioner will not produce the cool air you are desperate for.

If the AC unit turns on but you can’t feel it functioning or it won’t start at all, don’t worry—there are a few things given by AC repair services that you can try to get it running again.

Turn on the thermostat.

If the air conditioner isn’t cooling or even turning on, the first step is to check the thermostat to determine what temperature it’s set to. Someone in your home could have increased the internal temperature or switched off the thermostat completely.

If it’s turned off, simply switch it back on and make sure it’s set to cool. Setting the temperature five degrees lower than the room’s ambient temperature is also wise. If the room begins to cool down, there is most likely no problem with the exterior air conditioning equipment.

If it still does not appear to be operating and the thermostat is battery-powered, try changing the batteries with new ones. You also should contact a professional to determine if the wiring has become crossed or if pests have chewed through the wires within the wall.

Check the shut-off switch.

If an AC unit is not operating, one of several power sources may have been mistakenly switched off. Because an outdoor AC unit uses a different power source than an indoor AC unit, go outdoors to where it is located.

Next to the unit, there should be a location for an emergency or shutdown switch. Someone could have mistakenly left the switch in the “off” position.

Before examining whether the problem has been resolved, ensure everything is plugged in and set to “on.”

You can also press a reset button on the outside AC unit. If there is no outside reset switch, use the indoor system to reset both units.

Turn off the breaker or thermostat and wait at least one minute before turning it back on. After resetting it, check if the outside unit has turned back on and the room is cooling down.

Check the circuit breaker and confirm you don’t have a blown fuse

A blown fuse in the circuit breaker could have caused the exterior air conditioner to stop working properly. You have a blown fuse when you have an overloaded circuit breaker, which can occur when the AC unit is overworked or the wires become loose and brittle.

Check your home’s circuit panel to find out if any breakers have tripped. Next, switch them off and then on again. If the breaker instantly trips after being turned back on, an electrical problem may require an electrician to look at it.

It is critical not to reactivate the circuit breaker, as this could cause more damage to the exterior air conditioning equipment or other household appliances.

If your home has a fuse box, replace any fuses that appear to be blown. Your home’s air conditioning unit may also have its shut-off box. If the fuse is blown there, let an HVAC contractor replace it.

Check if the capacitor is failing.

A capacitor stores the energy required to power the outside AC device. If the capacitor fails, the outside AC unit may emit a buzzing noise as the AC condenser fan attempts to spin without electricity from the capacitor.

An alternating current unit consists of two capacitors: a start capacitor and a run capacitor. A start capacitor gives the initial push to spin the condenser fan while the run capacitor runs the unit.

Regardless of the capacitor installed in your home’s air conditioning equipment, it will age and deteriorate over time, causing it to fail. Overwork, severe heat, and power surges can all hasten this process.

To determine whether the capacitor is failing, try spinning the condenser fan with a thin piece of wood to avoid pinching fingers. If it’s a dual-run capacitor and the AC fan starts spinning, there could be dirt or dust in the AC fan motor, or it could be damaged.

If the AC fan does not spin, the capacitor will likely fail, and you need to look at it.

Find out if you have a problem with the condensate drain line

An AC condensate drain pipe removes water accumulating while the AC’s evaporator transforms the refrigerant from liquid to gas. If not cleaned, algae and filth can accumulate in the drain line.

A line might also become clogged due to high humidity. When the line becomes blocked, a safety switch will trip, turning off the air conditioner.

You should turn off the HVAC unit and use a wet/dry vacuum to clear the clogged condensate drain line. If the situation persists, get professional help to minimize the harm.

Check the Freon levels. They might be low.

Freon cools warm or hot air from outside before it enters your house. Freon normally goes through a closed loop within the home; therefore, if the unit is low on freon, the system will most likely leak. This can cause the air conditioner to cease operating.

Ice accumulation on the outside unit, only warm air flowing out of the vents, and a hissing sound near the AC indicates a larger leak.

Because refrigerants are risky to handle, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires a licensed professional to purchase and hold them. This means that you shouldn’t handle them.

You should contact an experienced air conditioner repair services Stony Brook professional and have them replace them for you.

Since you will be coming into contact with the professional a couple of times a year, ensure that they are not only experienced, but also have a great personality. This way you will have an easy time interacting with them.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top