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What to do if your AC won’t turn on

Posted on July 5th, 2021 by Bill Stuhr

In the heat of the summer, there is nothing worse than having your air conditioner shut off and not turn back on. While it seems like a good time to panic, there are a few factors you need to check before officially concluding that your ac is broken.

What to do if your AC won’t turn on

Step 1: Check the Breaker

Whether it is through the stress put on your city’s electrical grid during a heatwave or an intense thunderstorm, there is always a chance for a surge to occur during a power failure. When this happens, the breaker in your home might flip for certain appliances to prevent damage or an electrical fire from occurring.

Once the power kicks back on in your home, and your air conditioning isn’t on, check to see if the breaker tripped for your ac unit. If it did then you need to reset it.

If the system still will not turn on, then it’s time to go check on your air conditioning unit outside.

Step 2: Think About Your AC’s Recent Operation History

Regular maintenance is needed to ensure your air conditioner is functioning properly and efficiently. While some tasks like changing the unit’s air filter or cleaning the condenser coils are relatively routine, others might not be as obvious to most homeowners.

Just a few key factors you should be thinking about as you determine why your AC won’t turn on include any strange odors or noises emitting from the unit, and if you’ve had any wiring issues in your home lately.

If there is no cooling or air flow, there is also the possibility that the condenser coil could be frozen. This means you need to shut off your unit immediately, and wait until all frozen condensation melts before any repairs can be made. The functionality of your thermostat also needs to be considered, especially if it is set to cooling yet no cool air is circulating around your home.

If any of these factors sound familiar to you, then it is time to take step three immediately.

Step 3: Call HVAC Emergency Repair Services

With temperatures soaring well into the 90s during July, it is dangerous to wait on repairing your air conditioner. Contact your local heating and cooling repair company as soon as possible to ensure you and your family stay cool and safe.

Step 4: Stay Cool While You Wait

Especially during a power outage, it’s important to keep your home and family cool by closing all external doors and windows, as well as any blinds or curtains. This will keep the cool air secured in your home for as long as possible.

If power returns but your AC won’t run, use fans to circulate the cool air in your home, drink plenty of water, and consider taking a cool bath to keep your body temperature at a comfortable level.

Emergency AC Repairs in Palatine, Illinois

We understand how important it is to keep you and your family cool throughout the summer. To have your air conditioning system fail on you is not only frustrating but can also be panic inducing during a heatwave.

As one of the best cooling companies in Chicago’s northwest suburbs, Five Star Heating & Air Conditioning is ready to help you. With our emergency AC repair services, we want to ensure that your system gets back to work as soon as possible, so you can stay safe and cool.

Regardless of whether it is an emergency or not, please give us a call at 847-359-4534 for any of your air conditioning repair needs.

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