Some no-cooling calls come down to a filter, a breaker, a thermostat setting, or a full drain pan. Others need instruments. A short pass through the checks below tells you which situation you are in and gives a participating provider a precise starting point.
Nothing here requires opening equipment panels or touching refrigerant or wiring.
The five-minute safety and power check
- Thermostat set to COOL, fan on AUTO, setpoint several degrees below room temperature
- Fresh thermostat batteries if the model uses them
- Breakers for both the indoor and outdoor equipment set, reset once at most
- Indoor service switch near the air handler in the ON position
- Breaker for the outdoor unit set, checked without opening any electrical enclosure
- No standing water in the drain pan
The airflow check
- Install a clean filter of the correct size
- Open every supply register and clear return grilles
- Confirm the outdoor coil is not matted with grass or leaves
- Note which rooms are worst
Details worth writing down
Specific observations shorten diagnosis. Note when the problem started, whether it is constant or comes and goes, the outdoor temperature when it is worst, and what the outdoor unit is doing — running, humming, or silent.
- Indoor and outdoor temperature readings
- Whether the outdoor fan spins
- Any sounds, smells, ice, or water
- Recent storms or power interruptions
- Recent repairs, refrigerant additions, or filter changes
- Equipment brand, model, and serial numbers if reachable safely
When to stop and request help immediately
- A breaker that trips more than once
- Burning smells or visible scorching
- Water reaching drywall, insulation, or flooring
- Grinding or metal-on-metal noise
- Anyone in the home who is heat-vulnerable while indoor temperature climbs
What happens after you submit a request
Your residential request may be shared with participating independent local providers serving your area. A provider may contact you to discuss the problem and appointment availability. You evaluate pricing, licensing, insurance, and proposed work before hiring anyone. This website does not perform the work or guarantee availability.
Individuals shown in photographs on this website are actors or models and are not contractors listed on or dispatched by this site.