Why Your Air Conditioner Won’t Turn On After Heater Service
It’s frustrating to deal with heating and cooling issues, especially when one problem seems to follow another. If you had your heater serviced two weeks ago and now your air conditioner won’t come on, with the outside unit feeling extremely hot, you’re likely wondering what could have gone wrong. Although it seems unrelated, there are a few possible reasons why your air conditioner isn’t working after a recent heater service. Let’s explore some of the most common causes.
Tripped Breaker or Blown Fuse
One of the first things to check is whether your air conditioner’s circuit breaker has tripped or if a fuse has blown. Sometimes, after maintenance work is done on the heating system, the HVAC unit may experience electrical surges or other issues that cause the circuit to trip. This could also happen if the technician had to switch off power to the system during the heater service and something was not reset correctly.
Check your electrical panel to see if the breaker for your HVAC system has been tripped. If it has, reset it and see if your air conditioner comes back on. If the breaker trips again, there may be a deeper electrical issue that requires professional attention.
Thermostat Settings
It’s possible that your thermostat settings were changed during the heater service. If the thermostat is set to “heat” instead of “cool,” the air conditioner won’t activate. Additionally, make sure the thermostat is set to a temperature lower than the current room temperature if you’re trying to cool your home. This simple oversight can be easily corrected by switching the thermostat back to “cool” mode and setting it to the desired temperature.
Blocked Condenser Coils
If your outside unit is extremely hot to the touch, there could be an issue with the condenser coils. The condenser’s job is to release the heat that has been absorbed from inside your home. If the coils are dirty or blocked, they won’t be able to release heat efficiently, causing the unit to overheat and shut down. This may explain why your air conditioner isn’t turning on.
While this issue isn’t directly related to your recent heater service, it’s possible that the technician overlooked inspecting the condenser while working on your system. Cleaning the condenser coils and ensuring there is proper airflow around the unit could solve the problem.
Faulty Capacitor or Contactor
The capacitor and contactor are key components in your air conditioner’s outside unit that help control electrical flow and motor operation. If either of these parts is malfunctioning, it can prevent the system from starting up. A faulty capacitor or contactor could also cause the unit to overheat, which may explain the excessive heat you’re noticing. While these parts may not have been touched during your heater service, they could fail coincidentally around the same time.
Refrigerant Leak or Low Refrigerant Levels
Another possibility is a refrigerant leak. If your refrigerant levels are too low, the air conditioner will struggle to cool your home, and the outside unit may become overheated due to overworking. If this is the case, the system will need to be recharged, and the leak should be located and repaired by an HVAC professional.
What Should You Do Next?
If resetting the breaker and checking the thermostat doesn’t solve the issue, it’s important to call a qualified HVAC technician to inspect the system. They’ll be able to diagnose the specific problem, whether it’s a refrigerant issue, electrical problem, or malfunctioning component.
At Superior AC & Heat, we’re here to help you get your air conditioning back up and running. Contact us today for expert troubleshooting and repairs to keep your home comfortable all year round.
