What to Do if Your AC Won’t Start After a Power Outage

What should you do if your air conditioner won’t turn on after a power outage? A good rule of thumb would be to call a professional heating and air conditioning contractor if there’s something wrong with your AC. But, before you do that, you might want to try resetting your thermostat. 

Here’s how to reset your AC’s thermostat after a power outage:

  • Turn off the thermostat and circuit breaker – Look for the system switch on your thermostat and circuit breaker and turn them off. 
  • Flip the circuit breaker back on 
  • Wait for 30 minutes before switching your AC’s thermostat back on – It takes roughly 30 minutes for your air conditioner’s internal circuitry to reset. Also, don’t forget to set the thermostat at least five degrees below the current room temperature. 

If resetting the thermostat doesn’t work, you should have a professional HVAC contractor inspect it. 

What If Your Air Conditioner Is Working But Isn’t Blowing Cool Air?

Your AC needs to be inspected by a technician. The usual suspects behind this type of malfunction are: 

  • A tripped breaker – After power is restored, there might be a surge in the electrical current, which could trip the breaker and shut down the circuit of individual AC components. If your AC isn’t blowing cool air, the usual suspect would be the circuit breaker of your AC’s outdoor components. 
  • Failed capacitors – If your AC’s capacitor is damaged by the power surge, its compressor—the component that’s responsible for circulating refrigerant—won’t start. This will, in turn, prevent the AC from removing heat from the air coming from the blower fan. 
  • Malfunctioning compressor – The power surge might have directly damaged the compressor. 

One more thing: Don’t forget to vet an HVAC contractor. A good vetting tip to remember is that the number of years a contractor has been in business will usually give you a good idea of their level of expertise. 

McMaster has been offering professional HVAC services and premium Carrier® HVAC products to local residents since 1996. To get a free estimate, call us at (949) 481-7995 or fill out this form. We serve homeowners in Lake Forest and Irvine, as well as surrounding CA communities.

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