What to Do When Your Air Conditioner Stops Working

Air conditioning units that stop working unexpectedly generally indicates a fault, however, there are exceptions that can be sorted out easily. Here are a few things you can try, but if the system fails to respond it’s best to give us a call.

What to Do When Your Air Conditioner Stops Working?

The first step is to check if the remote is working and has batteries that are charged. Next, check your power supply. If your power is still on, but the aircon isn’t working, reset the system by switching the system off for 30 minutes. You will find the aircon trip switch near the outdoor system or in your electrical switchboard. When you switch it on again, it will take up to 20 minutes to reboot. If the system shows any error codes, note these down.

If a system reset doesn’t resolve the problem, you’ll need to call us to schedule a diagnostic check. There is a difference between general service and a diagnostic callout. General service is an opportunity for our technicians to clean the system to ensure that it is working efficiently. The service includes a thorough check of items that need to be cleaned regularly, such as condensate drains. A diagnostic callout is required when your system has malfunctioned, and we then need to send a highly qualified technician to test the system to diagnose any faults.

If you give us the details of the serial number you will find on the side of the outdoor unit, we can check if it is under warranty. Also, quote all error codes you saw on the unit, as these may no longer be evident when our team comes to the property.

On the day of the inspection, our technician will run a diagnostic test to see if any fault codes come up. A diagnostic may show there is an issue with the PC board, fan motor, or compressor.

If the system takes longer than the allotted time to repair, or parts are required, we will schedule a follow-up callout. Air conditioning systems are made up of many electrical and mechanical components. Each model is different, and we are not able to keep parts for every system stocked. If it becomes apparent that the access to your system is difficult or unsafe when we arrive at the property, we may also have to return for further works with two technicians to ensure health and safety codes are adhered to. If you think your system may be a challenge to access, please let us know when you book your diagnostic test so we can help prevent a second callout.

To provide you with an accurate repair quote, we would then contact the manufacturer to get prices for the parts that the technician has reported are required to repair the system. Once we’ve got those prices, we will put them all together into a formal repair proposal, including the estimated labour costs for the time we anticipate is needed for the work. Once the proposal is accepted, we can schedule the repair booking. If the fault falls under warranty, we will refer you to the manufacturer to undertake the repairs.

Repair lead times are reliant on how soon we can source the replacement parts. If your air conditioner is a Daikin, you can expect it to take a few days or up to a week. With other brands, or when it is a busy period like summer, it could take longer. In some cases, the parts need to be imported, which can take up to six weeks. We will always do our best to ensure delays are minimised. Note, if a brand is no longer in production, it may be challenging to source parts, and we would talk you through your options of replacing the system.

One thing to consider if your aircon stops working is the overall lifespan of the system. If maintained regularly, an air conditioner can last more than ten years. There comes the point when the air conditioner starts having problems that are expensive to fix, and it makes financial sense to consider replacing it. Again, we will be able to give you all the information you need to make the best decision for your property.

Aircon on the blink?

Call Penair today, or fill in an online booking request form, and we’ll be in touch to send a team out to check your system. It depends on the time of year and our current bookings, but it takes on average a week for our technician to visit your property. At quieter times, we can usually fit you in sooner.