Cold Air Not Flowing? 5 Easy Ways to Reset Your Air Conditioner
It’s a hot summer day in Calgary, and you’re thankful you have central air conditioning. But then you notice your AC behaving oddly or not cooling like it is supposed to. Before you fret, try resetting your air conditioner. This quick step often fixes small issues and gets your system operating normally again.
Why Would I Want to Reset My Central Air?
Every air conditioner has a protection circuit breaker. This safety mechanism helps prevent electrical problems, such as fires or explosions, that could happen from power surges or outages. When the circuit trips, resetting your air conditioner is likely going to be necessary to get it operating again.
Another time to reset the AC is if your unit is blowing warm air when it should be blowing cold air. In this case, the culprit might be a thermostat problem. Occasionally, a simple reset is all it takes to resolve the situation.
Although, it’s important to approach this task with caution. If you’re uneasy about resetting the AC yourself, get in touch with a professional for assistance. Additionally, be aware that tampering with your unit’s internal elements might void your warranty, so always check the guidelines before going ahead.
5 Tips for Resetting an Air Conditioner
When minor issues develop, a reset is a good place to start. Here are five methods for resetting your central air.
1. Reset Your Home’s Circuit Breaker
Your home’s electrical panel contains the breakers for all your electrical circuits, including a specific one for your HVAC system. If the cooling system is having trouble soon after a power surge or outage, try this strategy first.
Identify the electrical panel—often found in the garage, basement, crawlspace or utility closet—and look for the switch labeled for your HVAC system. If the circuits aren’t labeled, you might have to experiment. Turn the circuit breaker off, wait 30 minutes, and then flip it on again. Now, turn the AC back on, verify that the thermostat is set to “cool” and see how the unit performs.
2. Press the Reset Button
If your air conditioner has a reset control, this is probably the quickest way to clear any slight glitches in the system. This small, red button is most likely on or near the exterior condensing unit, perhaps under a panel marked “Reset”. If you are not able to find it, reference your AC’s owner’s manual or find a digital copy online.
Use these tips to reset your cooling system using the reset button:
1. Switch your thermostat to the “off” setting.
2. Hit the circuit breaker that powers your air conditioner.
3. Press and hold the reset button for three to five seconds.
4. Return power to your AC by turning the circuit breaker back on.
5. Finally, set the thermostat to “cool” and choose a temperature slightly less than the current indoor temperature. The AC should come to life in just a few seconds. If the air being blown from the registers feels cool, you’re good to go!
3. Turn the Isolation Switch
If you can’t find the reset button, look for the isolation switch near the outdoor unit. This safety feature lets you cut off power to the air conditioner when the unit malfunctions without impacting the rest of your home’s electricity. It should look like a dial with an “on” and “off” position.
Power down the AC by flipping the isolation switch, wait 30 to 60 minutes and then flip the switch again to turn it on again. This manual reboot fully disconnects your AC unit from power, allowing all electrical components to reset.
4. Unplug the Air Conditioner
Is your air conditioner still not working right? The next air conditioning reset technique is to unplug the equipment. First, find the shutoff panel near the outdoor unit and turn off the power to the compressor. Then, unplug the AC from the power supply board. Leave the unit unplugged for not less than 30 minutes to let any residual charge dissipate from the internal components, clearing any errors and giving the HVAC a fresh start. If your air conditioner still won’t work correctly after plugging it back in, the socket could be faulty. You’ll need a technician to repair this issue.
5. Hire a Professional
When all else fails, or you’re not feeling confident in attempting the DIY tips above, hiring a professional is your best bet. A certified HVAC contractor can reset your system using particular tools and diagnose underlying issues that might not be fixed with a simple reset.
AC Still Not Working? Call the Professionals at A1 Chesney Service Experts
If you’ve attempted resetting your air conditioner yourself and it’s still not running correctly, don’t worry—A1 Chesney Service Experts is here to help. Our certified technicians provide high-quality, long-lasting AC repair, with your satisfaction guaranteed. If you’re not totally happy with our AC services in Calgary, we’ll make it right! Contact us at 587-315-5271 today so we can make your home a more comfortable place!
