Home
AC stopped?

AC stopped? Five checks before you call.

Some breakdowns are not breakdowns at all. These five checks are safe for anyone, need no tools and take a few minutes. If none of them solves it, call us — and tell us what you checked.

In this order

The five checks.

Check 1
Is the thermostat asking for cooling?

Check it is set to Cool (not Heat, Off or Fan), and set a few degrees below the room temperature. A blank screen usually means flat batteries or no power to the thermostat.

The fix: set Cool, lower the setting, replace the batteries if it takes them. Give the system five minutes — many have a built-in delay before the outdoor unit starts.
Check 2
Has a breaker tripped?

At the electrical panel, look for the breakers marked for the air conditioner or condenser and for the furnace or air handler. A tripped breaker sits in the middle or in the off position. Outside, next to the unit, there is usually a disconnect box — its switch or pull-out should be in the on position.

The fix: switch a tripped breaker fully off, then on — once. If it trips again, leave it off and call us: something is wrong, and resetting it again can cause damage. Do not open any cover to look inside.
Check 3
Is the filter clogged?

The filter sits behind a large return grille in a hallway or ceiling, or in a slot at the furnace or air handler. If it is grey and matted, air cannot get through — the system may run with little air coming out, or ice up.

The fix: replace it with the same size (printed on its edge), arrow pointing towards the equipment. If there was little airflow for a while, look at check 5 for ice before restarting.
Check 4
Is there water where there shouldn't be?

Air conditioners make water, which drains away through a small pipe. Many systems have a float switch that shuts the cooling off when the drain backs up. Look at the pan under the indoor unit, and around it, for standing water.

The fix: turn the system off at the thermostat, soak up what you can, and call us. The cooling will stay off until the drain is cleared — that switch is doing its job and protecting your ceiling.
Check 5
Is there ice on the pipes?

Look at the larger copper pipe going into the outdoor unit, and at the indoor unit if you can see it. Frost or ice means the coil has frozen — usually from low airflow or low refrigerant.

The fix: set the thermostat to Off, or to Fan only, and let it thaw — it can take several hours. Do not chip at the ice. Replace the filter if it is dirty, then call us: if it freezes again, it needs a technician.

All five look fine. Time to call.

The fault is somewhere that needs a technician — a capacitor, a contactor, a motor or the refrigerant. Call (530) 394-6533 and tell us what you checked; it saves time on the visit.

Stop and stay safe. If you smell gas, leave the building and call your gas company or 911 from outside. If you smell burning, see smoke or hear loud buzzing, switch the system off at the breaker and call us. Never open electrical panels on the equipment.