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McCutcheon Air Conditioning and Heating Blog

Did your Air Conditioner stop working?

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It’s fall and that means the leaves are changing and the temperatures are dropping - for our friends up north.

Here in Sarasota, it’s still HOT (and the leaves are still green) and that means we still want the AC blowing COLD. On the Suncoast, we depend on our AC year-round and, if you’re like us, you have a trusted AC Company you can call at the first sign of trouble, but not every problem requires a pro.

This checklist can help you avoid an unnecessary (and possibly expensive) service call:

Check the Thermostat

Make sure the thermostat is set to the "COOL" position and that it is set to the desired temperature.

If your thermostat is battery operated (or if it has a battery backup in case of a power outage) a fresh battery could clear up some issues and/or restore connectivity between the AC unit and the thermostat. If you haven’t changed the battery in over a year – it might be time for a fresh battery.

Check the Breakers

Make sure all the circuit breakers in the box are set to the "ON" position. If there is a “tripped breaker” (at the neutral position) turning it off and then on will reset it.

Resetting the breaker that controls your thermostat and/or the air conditioning system can sometimes be enough to restart an unresponsive system
If your air conditioning system keeps tripping the breaker – DON’T TURN IT BACK ON.

Check the Filter

A clogged filter will make it hard for cold air to reach your living space. A clogged filter also makes your system work harder, which will result in higher electric bills and, if your filter is really clogged, it could be the reason the breaker keeps tripping. It’s a good idea to check your filter once/month (more or less depending on the type of filter and the conditions in your home) by taking it out and holding it up to the light – if you can’t see through it, it’s probably time for a new filter.

If after all that, your air conditioning system still isn’t working right, call Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating at 941-921-7208. We're always ready to help!

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