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3 Things You Should Check Before Calling Your HVAC Company

Discovering that your AC isn’t working properly is typically annoying and inconvenient. It can be tempting to call the AC company immediately, but sometimes the source of the problem is something you can easily fix in less time — and for free. Before you pick up the phone to schedule an HVAC repair, stop and follow these AC troubleshooting tips.

Check the Thermostat Settings

If something doesn’t seem right with your AC system, whether it feels too hot or you aren’t sure it’s working at all, check your thermostat to make sure all of the settings are correct. Sometimes we can accidentally change a setting while changing the temperature, which can cause inadequate cooling. Your thermostat should be set to COOL and the fan should be set to AUTO.

Changing the setting should fix the problem. You can test that the system is turning on by dropping the temperature a few degrees and seeing if the AC starts cycling. If you’re still experiencing cooling issues or the system won’t turn on, continue to the next troubleshooting step.

Inspect the Circuit Breaker Panel

While it may look to you like your air conditioner is broken when it;s not turning on, you should first check that it’s being supplied with power. If too much power runs through an electrical circuit at once, switches called circuit breakers on the electric panel flip to cut off power and prevent the appliances plugged into the circuit from being damaged. 

Your inside and outside AC units are most likely connected to two separate circuits, which will be labeled. If one or both of the switches are flipped, flip the back to the correct position and wait for a few minutes for your air conditioner to turn on. It should start running pretty quickly.

Change the Air Filter

If your AC is on but not cooling or there is poor airflow, the system might be clogged by a dirty air filter. When dust and debris gather on the filter — which means it’s doing its job — less air is allowed to flow into the AC system, reducing the amount of cool air that can flow out of it. If your filter is dirty, change it and check for an improved performance after about an hour. Remember to change your filter every few months, or monthly if you have shedding pets.

Calling a Professional

If none of these troubleshooting tips improves your AC’s performance, it’s time to call on a trustworthy, professional HVAC company like Barker’s Heating & Cooling for help. A licensed technician will be able to inspect your AC system and locate the exact problem before recommending repairs.

Barker’s Heating & Cooling provides the AC repair College Station residents trust to properly fix any problems with their air conditioners. Contact us today for more information or to start a service request.

Why Choose Barker's?

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30% UTILITY SAVINGS GUARANTEE
You will save a minimum of 30% on your heating and cooling costs or we will refund double-the-difference of your savings not realized during the first year.
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$500 INSTALLATION DATE GUARANTEE
If we do not have your new system operating by the date promised, we will pay you $500 for your inconvenience.
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COMFORT GUARANTEE
We guarantee that the equipment we have installed will perform as we have stated, or we will remove it and return 100% of your investment.

What Our Customers Are Saying

Very Professional

Chandler did an excellent job checking out our heat pump. He was very professional, communicated well, was responsive to our questions and I was very happy with everything he did.

Steve M.

Honest and Trustworthy

Our AC went out during a late summer heatwave. Called Barkers and Victor worked very hard to get the outside unit up and running. Two hours later we conceded to the death of a 29 yo unit. Victor notified the office the next morning, and within 24 hours we had a complete new system installed, and the house cooled by the time I got home from work. Highly recommend. Honest and trustworthy.

Susan H.

Very Impressed

We were impressed by this company from the first phone call. Reed was an exceptional young man; very personable and professional. The installation team of Mike, John and Cody did an excellent job. Barker’s is a business with high standards and we are very satisfied with everything about them. So glad we found this company!

Donna D.