Did you notice that the air conditioner outside unit not running or the AC system seems to work correctly, but the air inside your house is not cooled down? If so, don’t rush to call the local AC repairman yet. Here are some guides that may help you get the unit back up and running normally.
Should The Outside Unit Run When The Ac Is On?
It is normal if your air conditioner is blowing, but the outside unit is not running. The outside unit of the AC system runs through on and off cycles. Running fewer cycles doesn’t directly mean a bad thing. But instead, it can be a positive thing.
AC Outdoor Unit Stops After Some Time
In case you notice that the outside ac unit is not turning on, but the inside is but feel like the system is not working correctly, try to go the troubleshooting guides below:
Check if the thermostat is set to ‘Cool’ mode
This is the first thing that will be checked by a technician if there’s a problem with your AC unit. Ensure that the thermostat is set to ‘Cool’ mode and a minimum of 5 degrees cooler than the current temperature inside the building. If this doesn’t work, then try the next tip below.
Check the turn-off or emergency switch
Most AC units are equipped with an emergency switch located close to the outdoor unit. You may identify it by finding a hanging metal box. There’s a chance that it is unintentionally left in the ‘OFF’ position.
Check the power switch of the inside unit
Aside from emergency switches, AC units also commonly feature a switch button located in the closet, attic, or close to the machine. The switch may appear similar to a light switch, so again, there’s an opportunity that it is accidentally flipped to ‘OFF’ by someone, causing the blower to turn off, the inside unit to freeze, or the whole system to shut down.
Read also: GE Window Air Conditioners Troubleshooting
Check for a tripped circuit breaker or a blown fuse
There’s a chance the AC unit may have a tripped circuit breaker or blown a fuse if there’s been an electrical surge recently. Go to the places below:
- The main power panel: It presents a circuit panel in modern houses and a fuse box for older homes or buildings. Check for a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker.
- The power box close to the unit: AC models feature a fuse with a safety power box. This component may require a replacement even if the fuse doesn’t seem to be blown.
Check if the condensate drain line is experiencing an issue
The air conditioner forms condensation while working. The condensation is drained out through a drain line from the building. It may go through a clogged situation if there’s high humidity, which causes the safety switch to be tripped and shut down the whole system. You may try unclogging the drain line by using a powerful vacuum to absorb the congestion.
Another possible issue may be related to the condensate drain pump responsible for pumping the water outside the building. If it experiences damage, a tripped safety switch issue may also occur.
Reset the air conditioner
Some AC models have a ‘reset’ button, usually located close to the outside AC unit. This button can be used. Otherwise, you may perform the resetting procedure below:
- Switch off the air conditioning at the thermostat.
- Wait for a few minutes.
- Switch the unit back on.
Suppose you have tried all the alternatives above but the problem of air conditioner outside unit not running persists. In that case, you need to contact a professional AC technician to resolve the issue.
