A/C Unit Outside Doesn't Turn on?

Question

Just recently the a/c unit outside hasn't been functioning at all and the fan in the attic is only blowing out warm air.

What's the problem? I've checked the air filter and it's fine. We just recently changed it.

I checked the pan, and it seemed to have some orange, jell-like fluid in it.

I poured some bleach into one of the tube things that the new home-owner guide told me to pour into. I'm still waiting for some results since nothing seems to help right now.

The blower works just fine, it's just the a/c unit outside doesn't turn on...therefore the air conditioner function doesn't work. What can I do? I'm at a loss and have a tight budget.

Also, the a/c unit outside is only 2 years old. There's no reason it should be damaged. This has just started happening yesterday.

Answer 1

Make sure you don't have a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker both in your electric panel and at the outside disconnect.

If that's not the problem, call an HVAC professional. Is the unit still under warranty?

There's also the possibility that there's a kill switch on a pan under the attic coil. It would turn the unit off if there's too much water in that pan. This is a good thing because it keeps the water from overflowing and ruining your finishes and whatnot, and it makes it easier to find the problem.

If there's any water in the pan under the unit, it means that there's a clog (or some other drainage problem) at the condensate line inside the unit itself or in the tube coming from it. If this is the case and you can't find/fix the problem, call an HVAC professional.

Answer 2

See if your float switch is open,which will disable your outdoor unit.

It's in your secondary drain pan.It will open if the primary drain is plugged when the water drains into the secondary pan.

Answer 3

OK,LETS TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

1.ARE YOU GETTING 24VLTS TO THE OUTSIDE UNIT?BY THIS I MEAN DO YOU HEAR A CLICK WHEN YOU TURN DOWN THE THERM?HAVE YOU CKD THE BREAKERS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT TRIPPED?HAS ANYONE DONE ANY YARD WORK AROUND THE COND.UNIT?CK THE SMALL BROWN WIRE THAT HAS 2 OR MORE SMALLER COLORED WIRES COMING OUT OF IT,MAKE SURE ATLEAST 2 OF THEM ARE CONNECTED TO THE A/C UNIT.IF YOU FEEL BRAVE ENOUGH TO REMOVE THE COVER FROM THE COND. UNIT WE CAN COVER SOME MORE THINGS.

   AFTER YOU REMOVE THE COVER,YOU WILL SEE ALOT OF WIRES AND A BIG BLACK LOOKING SWITCH(CONTACTOR)MAKE SURE THERE ISNT ANY BURNT WIRES ON IT,ALSO YOU WILL SEE A ROUND CAN LIKE OBJECT(CAPASITOR)MAKE SURE THERE ISNT ANY WIRES BURNT ON IT,IF IT IS EXPOSED LOOK TO SEE IF IT LOOKS SWOLLEN(REPLACE IF IT IS)THATS PROBABLY YOUR PROBLEM. IF YOU DONT SEE ANY OF THESE LOOK ON THE WALL OF YOUR HOUSE AND SEE IF YOU SEE A SMALL GREY BOX W/2 BIG TUBES OF WIRES COMING OUT,OPEN THE BOX AND SEE IF YOU SEE A DISCONNECT AND IF IT IS CONNECTED,ALL OF THESE THINGS I'VE TOLD YOU TO DO IS WHAT A SVC TECH WILL LOOK FOR FIRST.IF ITS NOT ONE OF THESE,THEN YOU NEED TO HAVE A SVC TECH LOOK AT IT.

   BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR NOT GETTING EITHER 24VLT,OR 240VLT,WHICH EITHER WILL STOP IT FROM RUNNIG.