How to Fix an AC That Won’t Turn On

The cost to get an AC repairman to your house during peak seasons ranges from $75-180 depending on the time of year and your geographic location. And once they’re there, they often have a minimum labor charge.

We’ve been repairing air conditioners for a long time, and one of the things we’ve realized is that a good chunk of the service calls we made could have been handled by the homeowner.

We’re going to go through what the causes might be from easy to hard. Please do not be offended if some things seem obvious to you. Here in Phoenix we have a lot of people move here from colder climates who’ve never had an air conditioner and don’t even know how to turn one on.

NOTE: This page is for troubleshooting an AC that won’t turn on at all.  You might also want to check out our “Fan Not Turning On,” or “AC Not Cooling” pages.

 

Check the Setting on the Thermostat

First thing you’ll want to do is check your thermostat. Make sure your thermostat is set to “cool” and not “heat.” If it’s set to heat, you’ll want to flip it to cool.

 

Check Breakers, Fuses & Cords

If your thermostat is properly set, then you’ll want to check your breakers and cords. For some people the traditional breaker box is where you’ll find the breaker you need. For others, the breaker you need will be outside by that big grey box (the condenser.)

Check the Condensate Drain Line

When an air conditioner runs, condensation forms on the cold evaporator coil. This condensation leaves your home through the condensate drain line.

If this drain line gets clogged, the water overflows and a drain float switch shuts down your AC to prevent any water damage.

Find your condensate drain pipe and hook your shopvac up to it for a few minutes. If a plugged drain was your problem, the air conditioner should come on after the cleaning.

If you’ve come this far, and your air conditioner still isn’t working, it may be time to call a professional. Somebody will need to go into the attic and start probing things with a multimeter. And since attic temperatures can reach 180 degrees in the summer, we can’t in good conscious advise you to go up there. It’s hard to think straight in themperatures this high.  You’ve done your part, but it may be time to let a professional do their job.

For 24 HR AC Repair in the Phoenix Area, you can call us at 602-790-5486