1. The thermostat
Make sure it is set to Cool, the fan is on Auto, and the set point is below the room temperature. Replace the batteries if it has them. It sounds obvious, but it saves people a service call every week of the summer.
2. The filter
A clogged filter chokes airflow, freezes the indoor coil, and makes the system blow weak, warm air. Pull it and hold it up to a light. If you cannot see light through it, replace it, then leave the system off for two hours so any ice can melt before you restart.
3. The breaker and the outdoor unit
Check the breaker panel for a tripped AC breaker and the disconnect box next to the outdoor unit. Then look at the unit itself. If the fan on top is not spinning while the indoor blower is running, or you hear a hum with no fan, shut it off at the thermostat. Running it that way can burn out the compressor, which is the most expensive part in the system.
4. The drain line
Many Oklahoma systems have a float switch that shuts the AC off when the condensate drain backs up. If the system is completely dead in humid weather, look for standing water in the drain pan under the indoor unit. Clearing the line with a wet/dry vac at the outdoor drain stub often brings it back.
5. Ice
Ice on the copper lines or the indoor coil means either airflow is blocked or refrigerant is low. Turn the system off, run the fan only, and let it thaw. If it freezes again after a new filter, that is a refrigerant or airflow problem a technician needs to find.
When to stop and call
Burning smells, a breaker that trips again immediately, a compressor that hums but does not start, water dripping from the ceiling, or a system that is more than twelve years old and losing ground every summer. Call or text (405) 615-2707. Most repair calls around Washington, Purcell, Goldsby, and Norman are same day, and you will hear the price before any work starts.
Need a hand with this?
Call or text (405) 615-2707. Same day on most calls around Washington, Purcell, and Norman.