One of the most common recommendations, and solutions, to fix any device or electrical appliances that stopped working properly is to restart it. The same might be true with your air conditioning unit.
As technology advances and your home appliances get smarter, all it might take is to reset your air conditioners, and it’s fixed! A reset ac unit could work as if it’s brand new, be it an old or new model. You will also be able to save money that you would have spent hiring a professional. It could also keep you from having to schedule appointments and wait a while before the unit is fixed.
Before we explain how to reset your air conditioner, let us explain why you might need to do so.
Why Do I Need to Reset My Air Conditioner
There can be several reasons why your AC system might need to be reset, from a power supply outage to tripped circuit breaker. However, the problem might begin for most air conditioning units when the protection circuit breaker acts to prevent fires and explosions during an external power outage.
A quick reset can also help an AC unit blow warm air even though the thermostat has been set to blow cool air. One of the most common causes for an AC to blow warm air is an AC thermostat error. Your air conditioning unit might need a hard reset to fix the system.
Even though it can be easy to reset your AC unit, you should not attempt to do it yourself if you feel unsure of your ability to tackle an electrical issue. It would be best to contact and book an appointment with an HVAC technician from a reliable heating and air conditioner service.
As a precaution, you should know that you might need to open the condensing unit for certain units to access the AC unit reset button. Remember that it could affect your warranty, so check the warranty guidelines first, and it’s best to do this after or when your warranty is about to expire.
However, if you are confident and familiar enough with your AC unit to reset it yourself, let us explain how you can safely do it in four simple steps.
Resetting the Air Conditioning System
- First, you will have to shut the power down to the air conditioning unit before starting anything. Go to the circuit breaker panel and find the breaker that powers the unit you want to restart. You should also flip the switch to the outdoor unit to turn it off. This will prevent any risks of being electrocuted by exposed wires in your AC system.
- Next, you need to look for the reset button. The reset button is often a small, red button – typically located on the exterior of your AC or inside it, behind the service panel. If you cannot locate it, you should consult the manual for your unit or look for an online reference.
- Once you’ve found the reset button, you have to hold it down for 3-5 seconds and release it. The required time to hold the button might vary, so double-check with a manual. You can restore the power supply to your unit by flipping all the switches back up, especially those in your circuit breaker box.
- To ensure that it is working properly, you should go to the thermostat and set it to cooling. You should set the temperature to be colder than the air temperature inside the house. If your air conditioning unit has started and is producing cold air, then you know you’ve reset the air conditioning system successfully.
Resetting a Window AC Unit
The resetting process might be different if you have a window air conditioner. Unfortunately, most window AC units do not have a dedicated reset button. It is easy to reset it; you need to unplug it from the power supply to dissipate the charge.
You might need to go to the circuit breaker box and switch the breakers to the unit to the off position.
You should wait at least 5-10 minutes before plugging it back and turning the circuit breaker switch on. This will usually help reset your air conditioner, and it should be working properly again. However, if it does not help, you should contact a professional or use the warranty if you are too worried about causing more harm.
What to Do if The Reset Button Did Not help
If the old hard reset trick did no good, there could be several reasons why it did not work. There could be a more significant, underlying issue with your air conditioner or its components. Your thermostat may be faulty, or the air conditioner could act out because of a loose connection.
If you’ve tried resetting the air conditioner and even hired an HVAC professional to look at it because it is not cooling anymore, you might need to get the heating elements checked. If it shows the desired temperature, you might even have to replace the thermostat.
A professional will usually be able to repair and fix a thermostat and heating-related issue. If your AC unit is producing unusual smells, smoke, or sounds, you should shut it down from the external power supply and get immediate attention from a professional.
How to Prevent Problems in my Air Conditioner
To save you from spending money on repair services and waiting in the middle of the summer for cooling or in the winter for heating, let us give you some air conditioner maintenance tips.
- You must be vigilant about your house’s AC system and its maintenance. It is best to schedule maintenance repairs with a professional at least once a year.
- You should always keep the outdoor unit as clean as possible, with clean surroundings.
- Regularly monitor your air conditioning system’s performance. It should be able to produce what you’ve selected on the thermostat.
- Replacing air filters regularly will go a very long way. It will prevent your air conditioner from overheating or ruining delicate components such as heating and plumbing.
- Regularly check the condensate lines for any blockages. If you find a blockage forming or that has formed, plumbing services can help release it.
Conclusion
You can often get away with resetting your air conditioner through a reset button or by resetting breakers. However, the reset button is not a fix-all solution – it simply allows your air conditioning system to restart and give itself a chance to recover from whatever caused it to stop working.
As mentioned above, if you are not comfortable enough or familiar enough with navigating the inner workings of electrical appliances, we recommend against doing anything yourself. It is better to wait for an HVAC professional from a reputable service to fix it.
There can be detrimental consequences to messing with any power supply or wiring in your AC system. Be sure to always be safe, and we hope this guide was informative and helpful!
