Having your air conditioning unit shut down on you can be one of the worst things to happen in the middle of a hot afternoon. All of a sudden, you’re stuck in the heat, have no idea how to fix your air conditioner and are considering calling 24 hour AC repair.
Thankfully, there is the possibility to try and reset your air conditioning unit. It won’t always work, but resetting it can sometimes fix the issue. Not sure how to reset your air conditioning unit? Keep reading to find out.
How to Reset Air Conditioning Unit
There are different ways to reset your unit and it all depends on the design. Here’s a guide on what to do.
First, turn off the unit entirely. You’ll want to remove it entirely from its power source and turn off your connected circuit breaker as well. You need to be absolutely certain there is no power going to your unit from anywhere in your house.
After you’ve disconnected your unit, wait at least 30 minutes before connecting it again. First switch the circuit breaker on and then the power supply, not the other way around. With this, your AC unit should come back on.
Again, if your unit still isn’t turning on like it should, you’ll have to call a professional as the problem may be bigger.
Calling A Professional
Some situations are more severe and you should never try to fix it yourself. If your air conditioner breaker continually trips, or if it just seems to take a long time to cool down, you should call a professional as soon as possible. This is because it could be something more serious like a wire that’s exposed or a faulty connection.
In these severe cases, a botched resetting attempt could actually spark a fire.
As a general rule of thumb, if you find yourself having to reset your unit often, it’s a sign that something isn’t right. Numerous resets can also damage the system. So get a professional AC technician to have a look and find the root cause of the issue.
Some Reasons Why Your AC Is Not Working
If your AC has suddenly stopped working, it’s no surprise that you may be wondering why. Although the reason will vary between units, here are a few of the most common reasons for why your AC is no longer working.
- A Disconnect Switch is Off
Your AC unit has two disconnect switches: an indoor and an outdoor. If one of these is turned off, it could be a reason for why your AC isn’t working. Check to ensure both switches are turned on as it’s possible they were accidentally bumped.
- Thermostat Batteries Are Dead
In this case, it’s not actually your AC unit that is having the problem. Instead, it’s your thermostat. Throw a quick glance at your thermostat to see if it’s displaying anything.
Don’t see anything? Your thermostat is probably dead. Fortunately, this is an easy fix. Just swap out those batteries and your system should come back online.
- Tripped Circuit Breaker
Make that trip out to your circuit breaker panel. It’s entirely possible that the one connected to your HVAC was tripped, so go ahead and reset it.
Conclusion
Sometimes your AC unit can be easily fixed but other times, you’ll have to call a professional. Try resetting it first but if it doesn’t work, then you’ll have to call in for help.
Pat Ambrose has over 40 years of experience in the HVAC industry, serving Central Florida. He tested for and received his class B air conditioning license almost 35 years ago and then improved that to a class A license in the late 90s. Pat and his wife started their own HVAC business in the early 90s, serving Central Florida. Pat still serves as the president of Ambrose Air, Inc., where he works as the chief operating officer. Over his years in business, Pat has served as the president of both the local association (ACCA/CF) and the state association of contractors (FRACCA). His expertise has helped his customers on many occasions, solving air conditioning problems that others had missed.