AC Not Cooling? Five Checks Before You Call Anyone

We would rather tell you how to avoid a service call than charge you for one. Work through these five checks before you dial.

First, the filter. A clogged filter starves airflow, freezes the coil and mimics a refrigerant problem exactly. If the filter is grey, replace it and give the system two hours.

Second, the thermostat. Check that it is set to COOL and FAN AUTO, and that a schedule or geofence has not put it in eco mode. Dead batteries in a battery-powered stat cause total no-cool.

Third, the breakers. Air conditioners have two disconnects: the indoor breaker and the outdoor disconnect near the condenser. Both must be on.

Fourth, the outdoor unit. Clear grass clippings and debris from the coil, and confirm the fan is spinning. A unit that hums without spinning usually needs a capacitor, which is a fast, inexpensive repair.

Fifth, the condensate safety switch. Many systems shut down deliberately when the drain pan fills. Clearing the drain line restores operation.

If all five check out, the problem is refrigerant, compressor, control board or airflow design — and those need instruments, not guesses.