An AC's reset button is typically red and visible, so it should be easy to spot. If you don't see a reset button on the outside, it could be located inside the unit behind the service panel. Before poking around inside the machinery, be sure to cut power to the system by flipping off your circuit breaker.
After you've turned the system back on, it will take a bit of time for the air conditioner's internal circuitry to reset. It usually takes about 30 minutes, so sit tight until then.
If the unit, however, starts vibrating or makes a rumbling noise, a popping sound, banging noises, clicking, growling, clattering or screeching noises, it could be the sign of several potential problems. Any of these noises might signify that the A/C compressor is having electrical problems.
Loud noises, hot air, airflow issues, uneven cooling, and electrical problems are all things you might run into when an AC compressor is on its last leg.
The first and most obvious thing to do when your compressor won't start is to make sure that the unit is receiving power. It is always possible that a fuse has been blown or that a breaker has been tripped. If such issues occur regularly, you should have an electrician take a look.
A common reason for a short cycling AC system is electrical problems. This may be caused by a bad connection, a broken thermostat, a faulty circuit board, a condenser or compressor not receiving power properly. To properly diagnose and repair the electrical issue, call a licensed HVAC contractor.
Check on the thermostat settings, air filters, and for signs of clogged coils if the heat pump is not providing cooling to the interior. While you can fix some of these problems on your own through regular checks and cleaning, you will need to contact an HVAC technician to come out for other major issues.
A reset button can be found inside the air conditioner's compressor. Typically, the button is red in colour and modest in size.
The clutch-cycling switch is located in the low side of the A/C system, taking its high- and low-pressure signals from the low side of the system. It acts as a low-pressure cutout switch, in addition to cycling the compressor on and off.
If your air conditioner is running, but not lowering temperatures inside, one issue could be a blocked or clogged condenser coil. When operating correctly, the condenser fan draws air into the outdoor unit through the condenser coil to pull heat energy out of your home.
There are a number of reasons why your air conditioner might be running but not cooling. It could be an issue with the thermostat, the compressor, or the evaporator coils. Or, it could simply be clogged with dust and debris, which is preventing it from working properly.
Blocked Air Conditioner Condenser Unit
Blades of grass, dirt and other forms of debris may get stuck between the fins and interfere with this process. A dirty air conditioner coil will have poor energy efficiency. It can also lead to a lack of cool air from the registers. Clean the coil with a brush and vacuum.
First, check your filters and coils for dirt and debris that may be impeding airflow. Once you've cleaned the filters and coils, run the air conditioner with just the fan so that the ice accumulation can melt off. If the AC still doesn't blow cold air, it could be that refrigerant levels are too low.
You might be low on refrigerant or have a worn out motor or a dirty evaporator coil. Not all AC problems demonstrate themselves with loud sounds or funny odors coming from your system. Some of them simply reduce the AC's ability to run, and all you notice is less cool air in the house.
Check Your Thermostat
First and foremost, examine your thermostat. When an air conditioning stops blowing cold air, it's typically because the thermostat is set incorrectly or was altered. Children often play with thermostats they can reach. If this is the case, simply reset your device.
If your AC capacitor is bad, you may notice that your air conditioner takes a long time to turn on or doesn't turn on at all. In some cases, the damage to the air conditioner's capacitor may be severe enough to prevent the compressor from starting at all.
The compressor draws in air and creates a vacuum to reduce its volume. The vacuum pushes the air out of the chamber and into its storage tank. Once the storage tank reaches its maximum air pressure, the compressor turns off. This process is called the duty cycle.
Faulty Air Conditioner Capacitor
If your compressor isn't working but the fan is,you may have a faulty capacitor. This is a common and fairly simple problem, but it's important to leave this repair to a qualified and experienced HVAC technician.
Perhaps the easiest way to identify an issue with your air conditioner is if your vehicle is blowing warm or hot air. If your vehicle is too low on refrigerant, the evaporator core will not reach the optimal temperature for cooling. The air may start out cold, then blow warm. Or, it may never cool down at all.
A good way to confirm there are problems is to do an in-situ flow test with a reliable standard. Differential pressure flow meters for wet air (or thermal mass meters for dry air) can be used with good result, but this often means drilling holes in the pipes.
One of the most obvious symptoms of low Freon levels is if your air conditioner is blowing warm or room temperature air. As we discussed, the air conditioning system in your vehicle operates by circulating this pressurized refrigerant. When the amount drops too low, it eventually affects performance.