How to Reset an Air Conditioner That Won’t Work  

It’s a sweltering summer day in Fort Lauderdale, and you’re thankful you have central air conditioning. But then you find your air conditioner behaving oddly or not cooling as expected. Before you stress, try resetting your air conditioner. This simple step often fixes small issues and gets your system operating normally again.

Why Would I Have to Reset My Air Conditioner?

Every air conditioner has a protection circuit breaker. This safety apparatus helps prevent electrical mishaps, such as fires or explosions, that could happen from power surges or outages. When the circuit trips, resetting your home’s AC becomes necessary to get it operating again.

Another thing that could lead you to have to reset the AC is if your unit is blowing warm air when it ought to be blowing cold air. In cases like this, the culprit might be a thermostat problem. Sometimes, a simple reset is all it takes to correct the situation.

Then again, it’s crucial to approach this job with caution. If you’re uneasy about resetting the AC all by yourself, get in touch with a professional for peace of mind. Also, know that tampering with your unit’s internal elements might void your warranty, so always check the guidelines before attempting this type of work.

5 Strategies for Resetting Your Home’s AC

When simple issues develop, a reset is a good place to start. Here are five ways to reset your central air.

1. Reset Your Circuit Breaker

Your home’s electrical panel has the breakers for all your electrical circuits, including a specified one for your HVAC system. If the central air is having problems soon after a power surge or outage, try this method first.

Locate the electrical panel—commonly found in the garage, basement, crawlspace or utility closet—and search for the switch labeled for your HVAC system. If the circuits aren’t labeled, you might have to try things out. Flip the circuit breaker off, wait 30 minutes, and then flip it on again. Now, turn the air conditioning back on, confirm that the thermostat is set to “cool” and see how the unit functions.

2. Press the Reset Button

If your air conditioner has a reset switch, this is probably the quickest way to clear any small glitches in the system. This small, red button is probably on or near the outside condensing unit, potentially under a panel marked “Reset”. If you are not able to find it, reference your AC’s owner’s manual or find a digital copy online.

Follow these steps to reset an AC using the reset button:

1. Switch your thermostat to the “off” setting.

2. Hit the circuit breaker that powers your HVAC.

3. Click and hold the reset button for three to five seconds.

4. Turn on the power to your AC by turning the circuit breaker back on.

5. Then, set the thermostat to “cool” and set it to a temperature slightly colder than the current indoor temperature. The cooling system should come to life within a few seconds. If the air blowing from the registers is nice and cool, you’re ready to go!

3. Hit the Isolation Switch 

If you can’t find the reset button, go for the isolation switch near the outdoor unit. This safety feature enables you to cut off power to the AC when the unit malfunctions without impacting the rest of your home’s electricity. It usually looks like a dial with an “on” and “off” position.

Power down the AC by flipping the isolation switch, wait 30 to 60 minutes and then flip the switch again to turn it on again. This manual reboot completely disconnects your air conditioning from power, allowing all electrical components to reset.

4. Unplug the Unit 

Is your air conditioner still not working right? The next AC reset method is to unplug the equipment. First, find the shutoff panel near the outdoor unit and shut off the power to the compressor. Next, unplug the air conditioning equipment from the power supply board. Leave the unit unplugged for at least 30 minutes to let any residual charge dissipate from the internal components, clearing any errors and giving the equipment a fresh start. If your AC still isn’t working right after plugging it back in, the socket could be bad. You’ll need a professional to repair this situation.

5. Call a Expert

When you can’t seem to make any headway, or you’re not feeling confident in doing the DIY tips above, hiring a professional is your best bet. A certified HVAC contractor can reset your system using particular tools and diagnose underlying issues that might not be resolved with a simple reset.

AC Still Not Working? Call the Pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning

If you’ve made an attempt at resetting your air conditioner yourself and it’s still not working, don’t worry—Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is here to help. Our ACE-certified technicians provide fast, lasting AC repair, with your satisfaction guaranteed. If you’re not thoroughly happy with our AC services in Fort Lauderdale, we’ll make it right! Call us at 954-736-4314 today to get your cooling system back on track!

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