It can be quite annoying when it’s a hot day and then there’s a power outage in your area. Sometimes this doesn’t last long, and it may even last only a few moments.
But then you find that you can’t turn your air conditioner back on again. Now what?
We will show you an easy way to reset the air conditioner as well as a more engaging method.
You don’t have to get an AC technician right away to get this issue resolved. You may want to deal with it yourself at first.
You may end up just resetting the AC, so you won’t have to wait in the sweltering heat for the technician and you save yourself the cost as well.
Resetting the AC is needed in these cases because of how the circuit breaker works to protect your home and your electrical appliances from power surges.
Maybe the power surge overloaded the circuit of the air conditioner, leading the circuit breaker to trip as a protective measure.
Now that the circuit breaker is engaged, it’s not permitting the compressor to start. So, you need to reset the air conditioner to get it to start properly again.
Before you reset the AC, though, you need to make sure you’re getting your regular full power supply. To test this, just turn on any electrical light in the house and check that it’s not dimming or flickering.
There are 2 ways to reset the AC, so pay attention:
The Easy Way: Pressing the Reset Button
If you have one of the newer air conditioners, your unit may come with the convenient reset button. If that’s the case, you can thank the gods of air conditioners and proceed.
Find the Button
First you need to find this reset button. Look for a somewhat small button on the AC unit. Usually, it’s a red button. You’ll know you have the right button because it has the “RESET” mark beside it.
If for some reason you’re unable to find this button, just get your AC manual and find the page describing its location. Or you can go to google and do your research on your AC unit.
For example, for an LG air conditioner;
Press the Button
At this point, let’s assume that you actually succeeded in finding the reset button. Now press it continuously for about 3 seconds (say “1-alligator, 2-alligator, 3-alligator”).
Wait a few moments, then repeat the 3-second button-pressing process.
If the out of commission AC works, it will then indicate this with 3 beeps. When all is said and done, turn on the air exchanger, and relax.
The Hard Way: Manual Resetting
Well, it’s not really all that hard, though compared to pressing the reset button this is a bit more complicated.
But you’re left with this option if your AC doesn’t have a reset button.
Shutting the Power to the AC
First, you need to make sure that you shut off the power supply to your AC.
You start by flipping the switch off in the shut off panel next to your outdoor compressor unit.
Then find the 240-volt circuit in the main electrical panel, and turn that off as well.
Just to really make sure, you should also unplug the AC unit from the power supply board.
Waiting for 30 Minutes
You need time for the charge in the system to dissipate before you reconnect the AC to your power grid. This will take about half an hour.
At this point, you may want to pass the time taking a long shower, while you set a 30-minute alarm on your smartphone. Take a cold shower, especially if it’s too warm. Then when you’re done, just stand in front of a fan as you dry yourself.
Hopefully, the 30 minutes pass without you feeling too uncomfortable in the heat.
Plugging the AC Back In
Plug your AC back in, and then wait a few moments. Then go back to the 240-volt circuit in the main electrical panel, and switch that back on as well. Check that your thermostat is set to “cool”.
Finally, return to the plug point near the external unit. Switch it back on.
Your AC should then work properly, and you can now enjoy the cool air. Relax, and think about the money you saved because you didn’t need the AC technician.
What If There are Problems?
It’s possible that you turned your AC back on, but it’s not cooling effectively.
That means you ought to check your thermostat because you may have a dirty filter. Your dirty filter can block the airflow and prevent the AC from cooling properly. So clean the filter, and then try again.
Now if your problem is your circuit breaker keeps tripping, it’s more serious. It’s serious enough that you need to call your AC technician right away.
You really shouldn’t go with the DIY approach at this point if you keep having to reset the appliance.
There may be an exposed wire or a loose connection somewhere, which can cause a power surge and damage your AC.
As a result of doing this, you may end up having to repair or even replace your AC. You also risk your safety if exposed wires are causing the problem.
The Need for Proper Maintenance
You also should make sure the AC is properly maintained so it will work as it ought to.
Clean your filter regularly, and have the AC unit serviced at least once a year.
It’s a good idea to have a technician look over your AC unit before the summer season, so that you’re sure that it can take the workload during the long summer days.
Conclusion
Your AC isn’t like your other electrical appliances, as it’s more expensive and more complicated. Sometimes it needs to be reset for it to work properly again.
The good news is that this doesn’t have to be a complicated process. You can do it yourself, most of the time.
Just keep your AC in working order, and take care of it. Also, find that reset button!
To all intents and purposes, there’s no need to make this harder on yourself if you don’t have to.