10 Reasons Your AC Is Not Turning on & How to Fix Them

1. Thermostat Issues:

• Your air conditioner and you can communicate with each other through your thermostat. Therefore, your AC cannot detect when it has to be turned on if the thermostat is malfunctioning.
• Look at your thermostat’s screen first. Attempt to turn on your thermostat if it is off or has a blank display.
• It’s also possible that the batteries in the thermostat are dead if they won’t turn on. Make sure you change the thermostat’s batteries.
• If your thermostat still won’t turn on, it might be time for a replacement.

2. Circuit Breaker Tripped:

• Switching off the circuit breaker is a regular issue. A circuit breaker may trip if too many appliances are being used simultaneously. It might also take place after a storm when there are power surges.
• Locate your electrical panel, then examine the AC switch. Simply flip the switch to “ON” if it is currently “OFF.”

3. Clogged Air Filters:

• Do you recall the last time you cleaned your air conditioner’s air filters? It becomes a serious issue since unclean, blocked filters may prevent your air conditioner from functioning properly. No matter what kind of air conditioner you have, you must always clean the filters.
• Airflow is essentially obstructed if they are overflowing with trash. In this situation, your cooling system must work harder to keep your house comfortable, and eventually, it may quit functioning.
• To check the cleanliness of your AC’s air filter, we advise utilizing a smart thermostat if you have a ducted system or a smart AC controller if you have a ductless mini-split system.

4. Condenser Unit Unplugged:

• Examine the cord that exits your air conditioner visually. If you have a window unit, the issue may be as simple as the AC not being plugged in. Typically, a small brown cord from your air conditioner will be attached to a panel on the side of your house.
• These cables have the potential to be chewed through or unplugged. This will restrict the electricity from going to your air conditioner, stopping it from turning on.

5. Blown Fuse:

• On the exterior of your house, close to the condenser unit, is where you’ll find the fuse box. We advise that you turn off the air conditioner and power supply, as you should with every item on this list.
• This must be emphasized again. If you don’t, you risk being electrocuted.
• Pull the fuses out and use a multimeter to check for continuity after you’ve found the fuse box and shut off the electricity. You can buy a replacement fuse at a hardware shop or from online vendors if one of the fuses isn’t functioning properly.

6. Clogged AC Drain Line:

• Lack of upkeep will eventually result in the AC becoming clogged with muck and overloaded with moisture. Pouring a cup of boiling water down your drain pipe around once a month will help maintain your condensate drain line clean. Make sure to shut off the power and the air conditioner before doing this.

7. Your AC’s Capacitor Has Died:

• Your AC’s capacitor has likely depleted if your HVAC unit struggles to start, shuts off suddenly, or makes clicking noises from the outdoor unit.
• Avoid using your thermostat’s highest or lowest setting on extremely hot or cold days because doing so may make the system work harder and lead to an overheated capacitor.

8. Damaged Motor:

• It is not a good sign if you hear grinding noises when you switch on the air conditioner since it could mean that the motor blades are broken.
• To avoid any interaction with the outside air, water, or dirt, motors are sealed. Old age or lack of maintenance over time can cause the seal to break, allowing the motor’s necessary lubricant to leak out.
• Without oil, a motor can eventually deteriorate and cease to function altogether. If the motor fails, the outside unit cannot expel heat.

9. Your AC Is Not the Right Size:

• An inadequately sized air conditioner will work harder and eventually stop functioning altogether.
• Your air conditioner will continually switch on and off quickly if it is larger than necessary, causing more wear and tear. Furthermore, because it doesn’t stay on long enough, it won’t be able to eliminate the excess humidity.
• However, a tiny unit will have to operate for a long time to cool or heat the house, which could lead to the capacitor overheating.

10. False Temperature Readings

• It’s also likely that your thermostat is sensing the temperature in your house incorrectly and turning off on its own.
• This can occur if your thermostat is placed near a location in your house that experiences considerable temperature swings, like a laundry room or kitchen, or on a wall that faces the outside.
• You must install the thermostat in a different location in order to resolve this problem.