So. Cal Edison (SCE) has a summer discount program (SDP) for individuals who volunteer the electric company to turn off their air conditioner for a discount during the months between June 1 and Oct 1.   Common complaint from these customers is: "My air conditioner is not blowing cool air."    Please review the below FAQs for troubleshooting this type of issue.  

 

CLICK HERE FOR TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS for Edison SDP

 

I'm not part of the Edison SDP program, and my ac is only blowing warm air. What do I check?

• Check to see if your outside unit is turning on.  This is called the Condensor/Compressor.
  • NOT TURNING ON > RESET YOUR BREAKERS 
  • IF IT IS TURNING ON > CHECK THERMOSTAT, CHECK THAT IT SHOWS A DISPLAY AND HAS FRESH BATTERIES

If the unit outside is not turning on after resetting breakers
It's possible the fuses burnt on the disconnect near the condenser.

Try the following DIY Air Conditioning troubleshooting tips the next time you're having AC issues:

 

1. Check for a dirty air filter.
2. Check your thermostat settings.
3. Check your air conditioner circuit breakers.
4. Check your outdoor unit. Is it running?
5. Check all air vents. Do you hear a loud whistling sound.

Check for a dirty air filter

AC problems caused by a dirty filter:

• Low airflow from air vents
• Ice on refrigerant lines
• Frozen evaporator coil
• Water leaking from your AC
• Inadequate cooling (hot/cold spots, AC struggles to reach set temperature)
• Higher-than-normal energy bills
• Equipment failure

And when your AC isn’t getting enough airflow into the system, it causes a whole host of AC problems and can eventually lead to complete system failure.

 

Check your thermostat settings

AC problems caused by wrong thermostat settings:

• Warm or hot air coming from air vents
• AC won’t turn on

Go to your thermostat and check to make sure it’s set to COOL not HEAT.

 

Check your air conditioner circuit breakers

AC problems caused by tripped breaker:

AC won’t turn on

What to do: Go to your home’s main electrical panel and check for circuit breakers that aren’t in the ON position. If your circuit breakers are clearly labeled, look specifically for one labeled “air conditioner” or “AC”.

Maybe your AC sounds like it’s running, but the air is not cool. Or the blower won’t start up no matter how low you set your thermostat. In either case, a reset can sometimes get an AC to work correctly again.

Sometimes the electrical components of your HVAC need a reboot. For example, an air conditioner reset involves cutting power to the condenser unit and thermostat and then turning the power back on.

In many cases, your air conditioner will begin to function normally again when starting back up after a reset.

 

Check your outdoor unit

AC problems caused by a dirty outdoor unit:

• Higher-than-normal energy bills
• Warm air coming from air vents
• AC doesn’t provide adequate cooling
• Frequent repairs

What to do: Go outside and take a look at your outside AC unit (condenser). If you see a layer of dirt on the outside of the unit, use a hose on a gentle setting to remove the dirt.

How to Reset an Air Conditioner

 

1. Power down your AC. Start at your circuit breaker panel and flip the breaker that powers your AC. ...
2. Find the button. Most air conditioning units are equipped with a reset button. ...
3. Hold down the reset button for 3 to 5 seconds and then release.
4. Restore power to your AC.