Did you know that Texas is now the hottest state in the entire US? After all, many parts of the state have been seeing temperatures go up to near 120 degrees.
As Texans, these super-hot days are forcing us to rely more on our air conditioners.
However, this increased use also means that we’re placing more strain on our AC. This won’t be a problem, so long as the air conditioner undergoes annual maintenance. Otherwise, it won’t be long before it ultimately breaks down.
An air conditioner not turning on is one such sign of a faulty unit.
The question now is, what exactly can make an AC fail to power on? Does this mean the unit already needs a replacement?
We’ll answer all these questions below, so be sure to read on!
The Circuit Breaker Tripped
Air conditioning accounts for at least 17% of a household’s electricity consumption. Since HVAC units use a lot of energy, they also need their own dedicated energy circuit.
Each circuit in a home’s electrical panel comes with its own “circuit breaker”. The job of this device is to “break” the flow of electricity in case of current overloading.
This can happen if you run too many high-wattage appliances at the same time. A sudden power outage may also trip all the circuits in your breaker.
In such cases, the breaker should automatically shut the power off. It does so to prevent electrical wires from melting and causing fires. Keep in mind that electrical failures caused at least 44,880 home fires each year from 2012 to 2016.
As such, an AC not turning on may only be due to a tripped circuit breaker. Check your electrical panel and look for the switch that says “air conditioner” or “cooling”. If it’s set to the “OFF” position”, simply slide it to the “ON” position to bring your AC back to life.
The AC Blew a Fuse
A malfunctioning air conditioner could trigger its breaker to always trip. Dirt build-up and loose connections are among the top reasons for this higher energy use. Frequent tripping can ultimately lead to a blown fuse.
An AC unit not turning on even after resetting the breaker switch is often a sign of a blown fuse. In this case, you’d need to have the damaged component replaced to get your AC running again. As this involves electrical work, you should leave it in the hands of AC repair professionals.
The AC Motor Died
Another possible culprit behind an AC not coming on is a dead motor. This is even more likely if you heard your AC making weird noises before it actually stopped working.
A capacitor test done by an AC technician can determine if the motor still has a bit of life left in it. If not, the tech would need to fix or replace the motor.
Get That Air Conditioner Not Turning on Fixed ASAP
There you have it, the possible culprits behind an air conditioner not turning on. If your AC still doesn’t power on even after you reset your breaker and changed its filter, it’s time to call the pros.
Get in touch with us now here at Best Air and Heat! We can fix all your air conditioner problems and get it running smoothly again.
