Skip to main content
24/7 Emergency Service Available 310-810-2721

Self-Diagnosing An A/C Unit Can Save Homeowners A Bundle On Service Calls

July 25, 2014
Self-Diagnosing An A/C Unit Can Save Homeowners A Bundle On Service Calls

If there is one thing all homeowners fear it would be getting a bill for HVAC repairs or equipment replacements. Over time even the best of HVAC equipment brands can develop problems and need to be replaced. To determine if an air conditioner needs repairs homeowners can Diagnose HVAC Problems using a few simple troubleshooting tips.

If you come home and find the A/C Not Working there are a few important things to check before panicking. First and foremost, you will need to check the power supply to your HVAC system. Occasionally a breaker box of a home will get a power surge and the main breaker or individual breakers can shut off.

Since HVAC equipment uses larger amounts of electricity this equipment is often the target of power surges. By making sure all of the breakers are on, some repair calls can be avoided all together. Another power related issue homeowners discover while Troubleshooting Air Conditioning units are switches that were accidentally flipped or pressed off.

A switch located at the inside air unit, the outside air unit, as well as the switch in the water drip pan area can also be the cause of an air conditioner not working. If one of these switches are accidentally turned off, the unit will not work. Please always use caution when troubleshooting your HVAC unit to prevent injuries.

Another power issue could possibly be caused by dead batteries in the thermostat. If the batteries, switches, and breaker box are not the cause of a unit not working, a clogged drain may be the problem. First empty the water pan and then flush the drain line thoroughly.

When the drain line gets plugged up with sediments or debris it can shut the system down, flushing this line often fixes the problem entirely. A unit that has power but just does not seem to be pushing enough cold air could be a sign of dirty air filter. Dirty filters are easy to remedy, however, if none of these troubleshooting tips fix the problem, it will definitely be time to contact a professional HVAC company.

About The Author

Brody Pennell

Since 1945, Brody Pennell Heating & Air Conditioning is the committed to helping homeowners in the greater Los Angeles area experience total home comfort. In 2021, the readers of the Los Angeles Times voted Brody Pennell the Best HVAC Company in the area.

Request Service

Please fill out the form below to request an estimate or schedule service.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Google logo with 4.9 star rating
Facebook logo with 4.9 star rating
Yelp Logo with 4.8 star rating
More Articles From Brody Pennell
More Articles
Erica O.
1725768849
Giovanni was so nice and did everything he could to fix a wiring problem with our condenser after hours in a hot attic trouble shooting the problem with the AC not working. He went over and above and the company is sending a supervisor to see what needs to be done to fix the electrical issue. I have interacted with BPH&AC technicians at other residences while on the job myself and they have always been just as friendly and hard working as Gio. I highly recommend!
Jim S.
1725762641
Needed an A/C repair given the 105 degree temps we were battled. By referral we found Brody Pennell HVAC who came out right away and restored our system at a very reasonable price. We won’t be looking anywhere else for HVAC help. James was a wonderful technician who handled the job. Well done James!
Mark R.
1725753865
They took their time and went through all the parts to find any issues
Kristina C.
1725751421
Ivan was wonderful! Not only did they fit us in during a busy day, they did a thorough job and fixed the issue within an hour. Highly recommend!
Jeff R.
1725689499
Highly recommended. Went on a trip and came home to a 110 degree heatwave and broken AC. Leo H. came to the rescue, had everything working in under 48 hours, explained what was happening and how to prevent the issue in the future. Grateful to have found them and to have functional air conditioning again!
shahan Y.
1725683943
Alejandro Amaro is a fantastic tech! He came out here and did several tests and did a fantastic job. He was super professional and even wore booties in the house! I still have a humidity issue that we still need to solve but he did great! Will follow up Brody Pennell to figure that out
Lya V.
1725682248
Romo is good and friendly
Kevin C.
1725676958
I’d like to acknowledge the professionalism we experienced from every member of the Brody Pennell team. Booking a last minute appointment was easily accommodated. The technicians arrived on-time and maintained communication prior to their arrival. They were aware of the notes from previous visits, which made it much easier to move forward quickly. Justin U. and Phil A. were friendly, considerate, and knowledgeable. I fully recommend their services. A+
bhbkeys88
1725676158
Armando did an amazing job fixing the problem with my air conditioning unit. Appreciate the knowledge and hard work.
Susan de B.
1725675965
Very professional. Kept arrival times updated. Unfortunately, A/C unit couldnt be repaired.
Lucie
1725670180
Ruben was amazing! so polite, professional and helpful.
Joshua F.
1725669183
Misael is fantastic. Very professional and swift with his work. Got my system in working order in great time. Cool and polite, I’m very appreciative of his work especially during the heatwave
Norah G.
1725667060
Mike I, Rafael B and Paul P are a dream team! Working in over 100 degree heat, they replaced our very old system with a great new one swiftly and efficiently. Def recommend!
Katie K.
1725665692
Richie did a great job, very professional and thorough.
Fame S.
1725664960
Kevin Lopez came out the same day I called and provide excellent, friendly, efficient, and professional service. Everything went perfect. Thanks Kevin!
Mehmet P.
1725663855
Armando has arrived as promised on time and fixed our air conditioning as requested on time and on the hottest day of the year. We are very thankful and grateful for Armando’s professional, efficient service and everything was reasonable and we are grateful to have our AC back running better ever. Thank you
Carlton L.
1725661591
Excellent, pleasent & competent workers.
Steve B.
1725654572
They always do a good job. No complaints.
pelusa45
1725654082
Ruben performed an excellent job! Thank you!
Joyce S.
1725646550
Alejandro Amaro arrived on time and completed the service in a timely manner.
Mabel R.
1725646125
Very satisfied with his knowledge and service.
Marcel R.
1725644473
Leo Hernandez was great! Walked me through everything he was doing and was very knowledgeable.
William N.
1725644007
Kevin was great. Very knowledgeable
Virginia S.
1725643184
Alejandro Amaro/ Tom Blomgren were so professional in handling a follow up problem with our new air conditioning unit. They were respectful of the property, worked in an efficient manner and kept me informed of the progress,while addressing the problem. I highly recommend them!
heggy W.
1725597720
Leonel H.From the beginning to the end was nothing but pure pleasantness from him. He was very thorough, informative and detailed on what was needed, and to what he was going to do. He explained with simplicity to where we got an understanding on what was going to be done. We we're very pleased with his service.....WELL DONE!
Masoud F.
1725588809
Very professional, explained everything very clearly. I will definitely work with them again.
tim T.
1725588363
On the hottest day of the year, our air conditioner broke. We called Brody Pennell and Ivan Diaz arrived an hour later. He did a check up, identified an issue, and resolved it within an hour. We were very grateful for such a speedy response.
TONI MINDLING S.
1725587070
I am so impressed with the time one takes toexplain everything to me—& walk me through my choices, if necessary! We have used BPfor many years & many different homes!Couldn’t be happier with their service!
Claire
1725581400
Leo did a great job fixing and maintaining our AC before the heat wave hit!
Kazim N.
1725578113
Anthony M was extremely kind, diligent, and fixed our AC unit very quickly. Highly recommend!
Bill B.
1725575128
Robert S.
1725574710
Anthony Manzo did a fine job ...
D B.
1725571413
Giovanni was so helpful and such a hard worker! Thanks so much! He saved us!
Greg G
1725558376
Alberto M. and Daniel A did and excellent job servicing our AC units!
Elie R.
1725557581
Shawn was very professional and knowledgeable.The service we received was excellent.I’d definitely recommend them.
kelly F.
1725505045
Alberto M and Gio P were absolutely great. They fixed our air conditioner, checked its efficiency, and made friends with our dog.
Eric F.
1725504486
Alberto M and Gio P came by and we’re able the definition of professional! Knowledgeable, friendly, and just the best!
Melissa G.
1725500642
Armando was wonderful.
Brooke J.
1725498104
Hank C.
1725497555
Today's service was outstanding, and due to the good fortune of having JONATHAN ORTIZ as our tech. Jonathan was more knowledgeable and helpful than I could have imagined, and his service was thorough and unstinting! I will be requesting him specifically in the future!Would give Jonathan Ortiz a 10-star review, if possible!Thanks again for your tremendous service!
Adam K.
1725496745
Amazing experience from the initial call to service! Had our AC Unit zonk out during the current heatwave and Justin Usi came to rescue us! He discovered the issue in short order and explained everything he had done to fix it and went above and beyond to do a full diagnostic of our system. We will most certainly be using Brody Pennell from now on for our HVAC service and I hope to see Justin again when we do.
Yi Y.
1725496515
Samuel C.
1725483184
We had a quick service call from Desi and the next day Rene came in and got us in contact with their regional supervisor and they came out same day.
jessica B.
1725478312
Armando and Richie were amazing! Very helpful and informative. Great customer service.
Joe S.
1725473403
Daniel Avila and Alberto M. were fantastic technicians they took care of my hvac system and would greet them back again for my future maintenances! Brody is amazing! Much appreciated!
Faramarz A.
1725420891
Very good, great
Paul J.
1725415704
Very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable.
Ashley S.
1725411470
Highly recommend Brody Pennell. They are extremely professional and I love their text alerts, service reminders and nice service people. Big thanks to Justin Yu for his professionalism, easy way to explain the maintenance and repairs and compassionate demeanor. Our son was screaming and the dog was barking, but Justin was so sweet and patient with both of them. Totally appreciate his expertise!Every technician who has been to our home, including Giovanny and Angel were prompt, polite and professional. It was a pleasure to have them in our home! They even worked extra hard to clean mold from the unit, so I appreciate their attention to detail.
×
js_loader