So, why isn't the air conditioner working?
Summer has arrived, and nothing matches turning on the air conditioner in cooling mode and seeing the temperature in the room decrease. But what should you do if the air conditioner is switched on but not cooling?
Check to see if the air conditioner is powered on.
One of the most common mistakes is failing to check if power is going into the air conditioner, which might indicate that the air conditioner is detached from the wall socket or that the circuit breaker for the air conditioner or furnace has tripped. As a result, all attempts to turn it on will fail (reason #1).
Check the remote control
If the air conditioner reveals "signs of life," the next step is to see if the remote control works properly. Replace the batteries in the remote control or the thermostat and restart the air conditioner. If it doesn't work, try pointing the remote control's viewfinder towards your phone's camera and tapping the remote control keys. When you touch the keys on the remote control, blue lights appear on the phone screen, indicating that the remote control is most likely operational. Replace the remote with a new one if there are no outgoing lights (reason #2).
If the air conditioner doesn't respond to remote control commands
If you've verified the remote and ensured that the air conditioner is receiving power, but it still doesn't respond to the keys on the remote control, there are two possibilities for the cause of the problem:
The viewfinder, which receives signals from the remote control, is the source of the issue. Replace the viewfinder in this case, to see whether the issue is fixed.
The electronic board is the source of the issue (reason #3).
If the air conditioner still won't switch on after the viewfinder has been replaced, there may be an issue with the electronic board itself. Disassemble the old board and install a new one in this situation (reason #4).
The air conditioner responds to the remote control and starts operating, but doesn't cool
When you hit the power button on the remote, the air conditioner turns on, but the air coming out isn't cool. In this scenario, you must inspect several components of the air conditioner to determine the source of the problem. First and foremost, you must inspect the condenser unit (which is located outside the house) to determine whether it is operational or not. If the air conditioner's exterior unit does not operate at all, there might be an issue with one of the air conditioner's sensors(reason #5). The sensors in the air conditioner have the task of maintaining a record of the temperature in the area around them and sending that data, in the form of resistance, to the control board. Another option is that the air conditioner's main control board has to be replaced since it is malfunctioning. A contactor is yet another component that might be harmed (reason #6). Once the contactor in the air conditioner has gotten the command from the electronic board, its job is to transfer power to the compressor. If the contactor fails, the air conditioner's outside unit will not run, and the air conditioner will not cool. Typically, it is the sensors that fail first and must be replaced.
Another possibility is that the condenser is partially operational.
If you switch on the air conditioner and see that the condenser outside the home is operating, but the noise is different from what you've heard before, one of the unit's parts may be damaged.
Note the following:
Is the outside unit's fan turning? If the fan in the outside unit isn't spinning but you can still hear the compressor running, there is likely a problem with the fan, its wiring or its capacitor. Check everything in this situation in the following order:
Verify that there are no damaged or torn cables close to the fan (reason #7).
Analyze the capacitor's capacitance /watch the video illustrating how to test a capacitor (reason #8).
If the results of the first two tests were negative, take the fan apart and install a new one (reason #9).
If the outside unit's fan is operating but the compressor is silent.
The fan and the compressor are the two components of the air conditioner's outside unit that need to make noise. If the fan appears to be moving at a regular pace but the outside air conditioner unit is making a weaker sound than usual, the compressor is likely to blame for the issue (reason #10). Even though the sides of the condenser must occasionally be opened to observe the compressor, it is always noisy while it is operating. This sounds like a little tractor; the compressor noise from the air conditioner's outdoor unit cannot be confused with any other sound.
So, if the fan runs but nothing else makes noise, the condenser's compressor could just not be working.
In that case, what should be checked? To begin with, because the compressor consumes a large amount of electricity (depending on the type of air conditioner and its size, the compressor can consume up to 70% of all the electricity that goes into the air conditioner), the electrical wires leading to the compressor, usually three, tend to burn(reason #11). Visually examine the wires to verify they are not scorched and are in excellent shape.
The capacitor is another component of this compressor that should be inspected. Because of the electrical load placed on the compressor's capacitor, a capacitor metre is required to check that the capacitor is in proper working condition(reason #12).
A third thing to look for is if all of the electricity is going to the compressor. Sometimes the compressor will not receive one of the phases and will stop working(reason #13).
The compressor itself is the final thing to inspect. If the compressor receives electricity but refuses to function, it is most likely broken (reason #14). Disconnect the air conditioner from an electrical source and try to touch the compressor after it has been running for 5 minutes with no noise. If it is really hot, it is most likely damaged and requires booster installation or replacement.
Installing a booster on the compressor can occasionally assist it in kicking on since the booster sends up to 3-5 times more power at the start of the task, which aids in starting the compressor.
If the condenser unit (the outdoor unit of the air conditioner) is working properly
If the condenser unit is making noises and the compressor and fan are both operational, the next stage in the test is to determine whether there is enough gas in the system. If the gas pressure is low, an air conditioning professional should inspect it. If the air conditioning system does not have enough gas, the air conditioner will not perform properly, the cooling will be poor, and ice will be generated inside the evaporator(reason #15).
How to Check Air Conditioner Gas Pressure
To monitor gas pressure in an air conditioner, use a meter gauge.
Currently, there are two major gas cooling systems:
Air conditioner running on 410A gas
Air conditioner running on the older gas, R22
Gas 410A is more common and is found in all air conditioners installed after 2005. The low pressure in an air conditioner powered by 410A gas should be around 100-120 PSI.
A standard pressure test for R22 gas should indicate 55-65 PSI.
Before testing the gas pressure, make sure that all of the filters and batteries in the indoor and outdoor units are entirely clean since a clogged battery or clogged filter might impact the reliability of the gas pressure test.
If the test pressure is lower than it should be, you must first locate the source of the leak, plug it, and then add gas after producing a vacuum in the air conditioner's system.
What If there is enough gas in the system, the outside unit will operate, but the air conditioner will not begin cooling?
In this situation, it is important to inspect the evaporator, the inside unit of the air conditioner. Numerous components of the interior unit need to be inspected:
The blower. The fan in the indoor unit's role is to spread the cold air created by the indoor unit towards the inside of the room. Check to see if the fan is spinning. When the fan turns but the speed is not normal, the cold air remains within the air conditioner and does not chill the room.
If your air conditioner's internal fan does not rotate yet the unit outside does. Revolve it by hand to see if it rotates smoothly or if it is trapped in something and does not rotate.If the fan is not turning smoothly, it is possible that it is stuck, and you will need to disassemble the air conditioner case to examine what the fan is trapped in.
Sometimes there is an impediment in the shape of a loose wire or a piece of the air conditioner that came loose and went into the fan and clogged it. In certain cases, the problem is with the fan itself, whose motor has stopped or is spinning extremely slowly. When it comes to engines, they must be dismantled and replaced. It should be noted that a capacitor of the fan in the air conditioner's inside unit might also play an important part in its performance(reason #16).
If the outside unit is operational, there is sufficient gas in the air conditioner, and the inside fan is spinning at the correct speed, the problem is most likely a clogged evaporator battery.
Over time, the inner unit (evaporator) collects dirt, dust, and mould. The dirt layer prevents air from entering and exiting the battery, causing it to suffocate (reason #17). The fan makes an ineffective attempt to vent the cold air produced by the air conditioner. The cold air is trapped inside the interior unit of the air conditioner and cannot escape. The solution to this problem is a complete cleaning of the evaporator battery. The cleaning improves the circulation of air to and from the battery, resulting in optimal and quick air distribution within the room space. Additionally, deep cleaning the air conditioner provides a number of additional benefits:
Benefits of deep cleaning the air conditioner
The cleaning allows the room to cool down quickly, thus helping to save on the air The power bills of an air conditioner are reduced because the faster the space cools, the less the air conditioner has to operate and the less electricity it consumes.
The cleaning will remove all of the germs and mould that have formed in the air conditioner over the years, allowing clean air to flow into the room. It is essential to keep bacteria cleaned in the house in the Corona age.
Deep cleaning of the air conditioner will allow it to operate more quietly.
Deep cleaning of the air conditioner's indoor unit will also allow it to last longer because it will not have to work as hard to cool the house.
Finally, I want to underline that there are times when you can and should fix the air conditioner problem on your own. If the air conditioner isn't cooling, make sure it's getting power and that the remote is working properly. Whether it works, examine the outside unit to determine if everything is still working or if some of the components have failed. If everything in a condenser is operating properly, examine the evaporator fan. Examine the inside battery to see whether it is clean. If it isn't clean, here's a YouTube video showing how to clean an air conditioner on your own.
In any case, I wish you much success. If you do not want to handle it yourself and live in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), please contact 416-887-1271 and we will ensure that your air conditioner runs properly throughout the season.