It’s a hot summer day and you go to turn on the AC, and nothing happens. You turn it off, you turn it back on again, and still nothing. If your air conditioner won’t turn on, here are some reasons why it might not be working and what you should do next.

REASONS WHY YOUR AC IS NOT TURNING ON

Check the Thermostat

Double-check your thermostat is set to cool. Check that the air conditioning is on and put it five degrees below how cool you want it. Sometimes the thermostat won’t trigger the air conditioner to turn on if it’s at the temperature you want it at, so setting it below that will hopefully start it. If not, check the thermostat batteries and replace them. If that still doesn’t kick your air conditioning on, there may be an issue with the AC unit or the thermostat, and you’ll need an HVAC technician to diagnose the core issue.

Change the Air Filter

If your AC unit senses it can’t blow air through the air filter, it may not turn on because it will be overworking to get through a dirty filter. Turn off your air conditioning and change the filter. Give it about five minutes or so, then turn on the AC and see if it turns on. Changing the air filter is also key to maintaining indoor air quality!

Look for a Tripped Circuit Breaker or Blown Fuse

A tripped circuit breaker or blown fuse in the house is known to be a head-scratcher for many homeowners who might not realize this can cause all sorts of appliances not to turn on. It’s often the last place they check when dealing with an air conditioner that won’t turn on. Check your breaker box and see if there is a breaker that has been tripped.

Is the Emergency Shut-off Switch Tripped?

Outside next to your air conditioning should be a metal box connected to the unit. Check to see if the switch is off. While most people will never need to touch this, the technician may have forgotten to turn it back on again if your AC unit was recently worked on. Wait about five minutes after flipping it back on before turning on your air conditioning.

DOES YOUR AIR CONDITIONER HAVE AN INSIDE POWER SWITCH?

Some AC units have an indoor power switch as well where the unit is housed. Look for a light switch, flip it, wait a few minutes, then see if your air conditioning kicks on.

BE ON THE HUNT FOR ICE

Check the outside unit for any signs of ice or frost. If you see it, turn your AC off, but keep the fan on auto. Also, check your filter to see if it needs to be changed. Wait until the ice or frost is completely gone, then you can try to turn on the AC and see if it starts working. If not, it’s time to call the professionals for AC repair.

CALL A.B. MAY FOR AC REPAIR WHEN YOUR AC IS NOT TURNING ON

If you’ve tried a handful of the above troubleshooting steps when your air conditioner is not turning on, chances are something bigger is happening. Call us or contact A.B. May today and let our team come out and inspect your air conditioning unit. We can determine why it won’t turn on and what to do next to get your home cool again.

Read More: Why has My AC Stopped Working?