When it is 105°F in the San Fernando Valley, a dead AC is more than an inconvenience. Before you book a repair, a few safe checks can sometimes get you cooling again, or at least tell the technician what is going on.
Stay safe first. If your home is getting dangerously hot, move to the coolest room, close the blinds and drink water. During heat waves the City of Los Angeles opens cooling centers; call 311 to find one. Older adults, babies and people with health conditions are most at risk.
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7 quick checks
- Thermostat. Make sure it is set to Cool, the temperature is set below the room temperature, and the fan is on Auto. If the screen is blank, replace the batteries.
- Circuit breakers. Check your electrical panel for a tripped breaker for the AC or furnace/air handler. Reset it once. If it trips again, stop and call a pro; that points to an electrical or compressor problem.
- Outdoor disconnect. Next to the outdoor unit there is usually a small shutoff box. Make sure it has not been switched off (for example, by a gardener). Do not open it or touch the wiring inside.
- Air filter. A clogged filter chokes airflow and can make the system freeze up. If it looks gray and dusty, replace it.
- Ice on the lines or coil. If you see ice on the copper lines or the indoor unit, switch the thermostat to Off and the fan to On to let it thaw for a few hours. Ice usually means low airflow or low refrigerant, so book a checkup.
- Water or a full drain pan. Many systems have a safety switch that shuts the AC off when the condensate drain clogs. If you see water around the indoor unit or in the drain pan, that may be why it stopped.
- The outdoor unit. Clear leaves and debris from around it. With the system calling for cooling, is the fan on top spinning? If you hear humming but the fan is not moving, turn the system off and call a pro. It is often a failed capacitor, which holds a dangerous electrical charge.
Call a licensed pro right away if
- You smell burning or see smoke
- A breaker trips again after one reset
- The outdoor unit hums or buzzes but does not start
- There is ice, or water is leaking
- Warm air is blowing even though everything above checks out
Is it broken, or just very hot?
On 100°F-plus days, even a healthy system may run nonstop and only hold the house about 20 degrees below the outdoor temperature. Close blinds on sunny windows, cool the house early in the morning, and avoid using the oven in the afternoon. If the air coming from your vents is not noticeably cold, though, have it checked.
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Near you: AC repair in North Hollywood · AC repair in North Hills · HVAC company in Winnetka · HVAC services in Mission Hills
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