Before you make that call, try this basic air conditioner troubleshooting guide. This guide will help you to diagnose problems with your typical ducted split type air conditioner. A typical repairman will cost you about one hundred dollars per hour. With a few household tools and a little bit of knowledge, you can do it yourself and save that money. (You provide the tools and we will help with the knowledge part.)You should ensure that the routine maintenance has been performed on the unit. If the air filter has not been changed in the past month, check to see if it is dirty. **NOTE** ONLY YOU CAN ASSESS YOUR ABILITY TO PERFORM THIS TASK. THIS IS A GUIDE AND CANNOT PROVIDE ALL OF THE DETAILS FOR EVERY SITUATION. Begin your air conditioner troubleshooting at the thermostat by ensuring that the thermostat is on cool and that it is set lower than actual room temperature. This is to ensure that there really is a problem. It may seem silly but that is the first thing a repairman will check and you will normally still be charged a service call even if that is the only problem.

If there is not, then, check to see if the fan on the outside unit is running. If the fan on the outside unit is not running either, check to make sure that the breakers for the furnace/air handler and the air conditioner are on. If the breaker is not tripped, then the problem may be your thermostat, the furnace/air handler control board, or the wires between the furnace/air handler and the thermostat. If your unit has a condensate pump, check to make sure the reservoir is not full. If the reservoir is full, a limit switch will normally stop the air conditioner from running. You will need to repair or replace the pump.If the breaker is tripped, you can reset it by shutting it off and then turning it back on. If it trips again, then check the wiring in the furnace/air handler for signs of damage and repair as necessary.If the blower is running but the fan on the outside unit is not, then continue your air conditioner troubleshooting at the outside unit. If the blower isn't running but the fan outside is, the problem could be the blower motor, it's run capacitor, or the furnace/air handler control board.

If the fan motor is not running, then shut the power off to the unit. Then check all wire connections for signs of damage such as burning and repair as necessary. You should also check the wire connections in the compressor terminal box and repair if necessary. You can use our capacitor testing guide to check the unit's capacitors and replace as necessary.how to test an ac unit capacitorContinue your air conditioner troubleshooting by turning the power back on to the unit and observe whether the contactor closes or not. advent ac unitIf the unit does not start, look for a reset button. replace fan motor in ac unitSome units have a high pressure cutout switch that can be reset. Then, use a voltmeter to check to see if you have power to the unit and 24 vac to the contactor's coil.

If you do not have power to the unit, you should check the wiring between the electric panel and the unit. If you do not have 24 volts to the contactor's coil, check the thermostat and the low voltage wires from the furnace/air handler to the condensing unit. If you have power to the unit and the coil on the contactor but the unit does not start, the unit's contactor may be bad.If the compressor starts but the fan does not, the condenser fan motor could be the problem.If the condenser fan starts but the compressor does not, the unit may be low on refrigerant, the compressor might be too hot, or the compressor might be bad. If the blower on the furnace is running, check to see if you see any frost or ice around the units. You might also notice water around the furnace. Is there ice on the copper lines going outside? If yes, then shut the outside unit off for a couple of hours but let the blower on the furnace run. This will allow the ice to melt. After two hours, you can continue your air conditioner troubleshooting.

Turn the ac back on and let it run for about five minutes. Now feel the larger copper line at the outdoor unit. This should be cold and have condensation on it. If it is not cold or if frost is forming on the line, it is probably a freon problem. You will need to call a repairman because of federal refrigerant usage regulations.If there is no ice or frost, then continue troubleshooting at the outside unit. If the condenser fan and the compressor both run but the cooling effect is not adequate, you should check the temperature drop of the system. To measure the temperature drop, measure the air temperature leaving the air handler and subtract it from the temperature of the air entering the air handler. The result should be about 15 degrees for a high efficiency unit and about 18 to 20 degrees for an older unit (SEER less than 10). If the temperature drop is significantly lower than that, the problem may be the refrigerant charge.If the temperature drop is significantly higher than that, then your air conditioner troubleshooting should focus on the system's air flow.

The evaporator coil, filter, or blower wheel could be dirty. This is usually the result of not performing routine maintenance on the system. It could also be caused by a duct system that is too small. This is usually the result of improper design or installation. You may be able to increase the blower's cooling speed or replace your existing blower motor with a variable speed motor to overcome that problem. Now, you can get live support or leave a message for the HVACrepairguy through Facebook Messenger. While some residence halls offer central air conditioning (Baker/Klipple, Palmer/Davidson, Painter/Whitcraft, Park, DeHority, Kinghorn, Studebaker East, Johnson A), we understand that some students with medical needs may require air conditioning in buildings without central air. For this reason, students with written authorization from the Office of Housing and Residence Life may rent air conditioners for their residence hall rooms. The yearly rental fee is $150, which includes installation, and your bursar's account will be charged in September for the yearly rental fee.

(Sorry, air conditioning units cannot be installed in Elliott Hall's casement windows.)(Please do not bring a roll away or freestanding air conditioning unit for your room. Plan to request an air conditioner from our office and follow the established program.) Requesting an air conditioner is a four-step process: Complete a Student Request for Air Conditioner form. Take Medical Verification Form to your appropriate licensed health care professional to complete. (Sorry, we're unable to accept a prescription from the physician, and a physician must complete the form in its entirety.) Mail or fax the completed Student Request Form and completed Medical Verification Form from a licensed physician to the following address: Director Ball State University Housing and Residence Life LaFollette Complex, Room N-10 Muncie, IN 47306 Fax: 765-285-3743 After your information is received and reviewed, you will be asked to sign a contract from our office.As part of the accommodation process, you may be interviewed.

Remember, a request for an accommodation will not be considered without current medical verification of the medical condition and necessity of requested accommodations. Contact our office for copies of both forms and for additional information, or download the student request and medical verification forms (requires Adobe Acrobat). Once the forms are received, a review of the information will be made, and our office will respond as soon as possible. An air conditioning contract will be mailed to you upon approval. Completed forms must be postmarked no later than July 1 in order to ensure installation in your room before move-in. Should your form arrive after July 1, it may take up to two weeks after move-in before installation may occur. Air ConditioningMedical Verification for ACStudent AC Request FormBedbug InformationBike LockersCable TVCarpetComputersFitness RoomsFront DeskGreen CleaningHousekeepingLaundryLofts and BunksMicroFridgesParkingRecyclingRoom RepairsSafety and SecurityTelephoneTransitions for Students