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This article is sponsored by State Automatic Heating and Cooling.
Your AC stops working on the first sweltering day of the season, and your first instinct is to call for help. That’s fair.
But there's a decent chance you can fix it yourself in under 10 minutes — and State Automatic, a Batavia-based HVAC company serving the Tri-Cities area, coaches customers through this stuff for free every summer.
Here are some of the most common summer AC problems and what to check before you pick up the phone.
"My AC won't turn on"
Before you assume the worst, there are a few simple things worth checking that are easy to miss.
Check your thermostat: Make sure it’s set to “cool” as your first step.
Check both breakers: Your AC uses two circuits — one for the air conditioner itself and one for the furnace, since the furnace blower is what pushes cooled air through your home. Both need to be turned on.
Check the furnace power switch: There's a switch near your furnace that looks exactly like a light switch. It's easy to bump into the off position accidentally (kids are a common culprit).
If you confirm power and it still won't start: The likely issue is a failed capacitor, which protects your compressor when power fluctuates. Your AC uses roughly one-third of your home's total electrical capacity just to start up, so storms and high-demand summer days are prime time for this to fail. A bad capacitor needs to be replaced by a technician.
"The air is blowing but it's not cold"
This one has a few possible causes, and the fix is often simpler than you'd expect.
Start with the same power checks: Both breakers and the furnace switch, same as above.
Check your filter: A clogged filter restricts airflow enough to freeze the evaporator coil, a component tucked inside the sheet metal above your furnace that you can't see. When it freezes, your system pushes room-temperature air. Pull the dirty filter out and let the system thaw for four to five hours before restarting. If it blows cold after that, the filter was the problem.
If it cools at first but weakens over a few days: You're likely low on refrigerant. That one requires a service call.
A trusted local company
State Automatic walks customers through these scenarios every summer at no charge, over the phone, before anyone schedules a visit.
Most customers are surprised a company would do that instead of just booking the appointment. But for State Automatic, nothing’s more important than trust.
If you work through the steps above and still can't get your AC running, State Automatic is ready to help. Visit their website or give them a call at 630-879-8600.
State Automatic Heating and Cooling is a sponsor of Tri-Cities Central.
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