How do I reset my AC?

[CottonEyedHorn]

My AC quit yesterday and I cannot get the ##%@!% home warranty people out before the end of the week. They suggested I try "resetting" it in the meantime, whatever that means. Right now it won't even come on at all. I can hear the thermostat clicking when it's supposed to come on, but nothing. Out of frustration I tapped the main blower unit and it came on and cooled down the house immediately. But again this morning there was nothing. I can't even turn the fan on manually via the thermostat. Is there something simple I'm missing?

 

[brntorng]

Cycle the breaker that powers the furnace/external AC. But that's probably not it. Worth a try, though.

 

[Summerof79]

by tapping the main blower are you talking about the blower fan motor at the inside unit? I am assuming so.

What you need to check is the outside unit and see if it is firing up or not. You probably don't want the outside unit running like crazy for example if the inside blower isn't working. Which it sort of sounds like might be the case here.

by "resetting" I think that they may mean simply turning the breaker off for a while and then turn it back on. Though I also know there used to be a 'reset button" on the bottom of the compressor in my old condo unit. But that thing was a dinosaur so I don't know.

If the unit outside is firing up and the line going into the house is cool then you sure don't want your compressor running like hell outside and never getting a rest. Sounds like it could be the blower, or better yet a connection to the blower that's just loose! I had to replace one on a weekend once at my condo, sit and sweat for two days for the next available appointment.

If you are cooling outside but not inside you may get lucky and have it be the fan. Usually there is also a switch that shuts off the electricty to the inside unit, especially if it's in a closet trype enclosure.

 

[Summerof79]

SORRY- reread you post- it's your blower motor or the electrical connection to the pblower motor, if the fan doesn't come on manually. Make sure to turn the thermostat UP so as not to burn up the outside unit.

If it worked after banging I would check the electrical connections as this one sounds like potentially a lose wire? Or you could replace the blower motor- Probably a $100 part, three wire screw nuts, and 4 bolts to remove. If it's the closet variety you could to this yourself. When I did this long ago I pulled the blower and tested it.

Get the model number of your unit and start calling around to see who might have the blower motor in stock. Look online to see if you can find some diagrams of the unit so you can see where the connecting bolts are.

First thing i would do is check the connections and see if that's where the problem might be. If that's good and you still cannot get the fan motor to come on then it's probably the blower motor.--

I guess it COULD be the thermostat.... test it by turning it on (when you hear the click) and check and see if the outside unit is coming on. IF it does, the thermostat is probably not the problem.

My bet... blower motor or the wire conncetion to it.

 

[madscientist]

did you recently mow and weedeat your yard? could you have done something to the wiring for the condenser unit?

 

[bluto]

my AC went out over the wkend. the outside fan was blowing but ZERO air was coming out of the vents on any setting. turns out the compressor went out.

 

[CottonEyedHorn]

ok, I took a closer look at it and I think I figured it out. There's a panel that needs to be removed to replace the air filter. It has a trip switch that won't let the blower engage unless it's in the locked position. Well, I noticed that one of the latches was broken and it doesn't close flush anymore. I pressed in the switch manually and it seems to work fine, so I'll just have to replace the latch and see what happens. Thanks