Here Are Some Simple Things to Try Before Calling A Heating and Air Conditioning Service Professional. If you try these suggestions and you are still experiencing problems, I hope you will call me. I service all major brands of heating, and air conditioning equipment, as well as heat pumps. I service the Albany, Corvallis, and Lebanon area, mostly but serve all of the Willamette valley.
Air Conditioning Equipment Checklist
- Check to make sure that your thermostat is set in the “cool” position.
- Ensure that your outdoor air conditioning (condensing unit) is running.
- Check the circuit breakers in the circuit breaker box (or electrical panel), most likely mounted to an outside wall in the back of the house. Make sure they are all in the “ON” position.
- Check the outdoor unit “disconnect switch” to make sure it is in the “ON” position. The disconnect switch is located near the outdoor unit. (Normally a grey 6″ wide x 12″ high x 4″ deep box mounted to the wall).
- Ensure that the blower motor in your furnace is running. (If the thermostat is in the “cool” position, the furnace blower should be running.) If not, check to make sure the on/off switch at the furnace is in the “ON” position.
- Be sure that you have changed your filter in the furnace or return grille recently. An extremely blocked filter can cause your outdoor air conditioner unit to shut down due to lack of proper airflow. A build up of ice near the indoor unit, or on the refrigerant lines at the outdoor unit could be an indicator.
- Check all supply air registers to make sure they are open and blowing air. and to make sure they are not blocked by furniture.
Gas Furnace Equipment Checklist
- Check to make sure that your thermostat is set in the “heat” position.
- Make sure that the temperature setting on the thermostat is set above (or higher than) the indoor temperature showing on the thermostat.
- Ensure that there is power to the furnace.
- Try turning the fan to “ON” using the fan switch on the thermostat to test for power to furnace.
- Check the circuit breakers at the electrical panel.
- Check the power switch that is usually located at the furnace (it looks like a light switch ) to be sure it is in the “ON” position.
- Check to ensure the furnace filter isn’t in need of replacement.
- All one-inch thick furnace filters should be checked monthly and replaced at least quarterly.
- Wider two-inch thick and other high-capacity pleated filters can most likely be changed every 3-6 months. (Filter life is very dependent on environmental factors, such as pets)
- Check all supply air registers to make sure they are open and blowing air. and to make sure they are not blocked by furniture.
* It often helps to have the unit model numbers handy in case there are specific questions that may arise.