Amana air conditioners are reliable and long-lasting, but that doesn’t mean they cannot develop issues. Some of the issues are minor and you can try troubleshooting your Amana air conditioner before calling the HVAC professional. If you detect the problem is more severe than you thought, you can at least give the HVAC technician detailed information. It’s a significant step to help him narrow down the causes of the problem.
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What are the possible causes for the Amana air conditioner not turning on?
No electricity to the unit or the components that turn on the AC unit can stop the unit from turning on. A blown fuse, a tripped breaker, and even an improper thermostat setting can also cause the air conditioner not to turn on. Keep reading for the details
Take a look at the circuit breaker
The first thing to do when the AC unit doesn’t turn on is the check out the breaker. The air conditioner has one breaker in the home’s breaker box, which gives power to every air conditioner component. If the breaker has tripped, resetting the breaker will solve the problem. You can do it by flipping the switch to the ON position. Should the breaker trip again, you must examine all the connections to the breaker—they should all be tight and secure.
Examine the wires as they have to be in good condition, without any bare spots or fraying. If you notice damage to the wires, you need to call an electrician to repair the damage. He will also reroute the wires.
Check out the thermostat
Is the thermostat running correctly? There will be no proper communication between the thermostat and the AC when there’s something wrong with the thermostat. Sometimes, you only need to change the batteries on the thermostat with new ones. If the image is missing or the display is blank, the thermostat is broken and will need attention from an HVAC technician.
Open the thermostat’s cover or remove it from the wall (it depends on the model). Dust inside and around the unit as the dirt may impede the sensors from correctly reading the temperature. Check out the screws and wires; they shouldn’t be loose.
Also, check out the setting and see if it’s “Cool” and “On.” Decrease the temperature a few degrees, wait a few minutes, and see if cool air comes from the registers. If you sense cool air, the problem is with the thermostat settings. For proper operation, switch the “On” to “Auto.” Go to the outdoor unit and see if the fan is moving. The system is up and running if the fan is properly operating.
Is the condenser unit unplugged?
If your Amana air conditioner doesn’t turn on, you should look at the cord that comes from it. Use a flashlight to see if there’s any damage to the wires and plug. Loose outlets and chewed-through wires will make the AC unit not turn on.
Unplug the AC and examine both ends of the wires. Do you notice any damage to the plug connecting the wire to the wall? Are the wires safely in place on both ends? If the AC unit isn’t plugged in, it won’t turn on—yes, it happens. Take a look at the cord that comes out of the AC unit.
You should notice a small brown cord that connects to the panel. Damaged or unplugged wires can cause the AC unit not to run. If there’s no electricity, the AC unit won’t switch on.
A fuse might be blown
Start by checking out the fuse in the box and see if it has blown. If it has blown, it will need replacing. Should the fuse not be blown, you can unplug the unit and plug it back in. A resetting will be necessary if this step is unsuccessful.
To reset the AC unit, turn the power switch to the OFF position and back to the ON position afterward.
A clogged air filter may be the cause
When the air filter is clogged, the AC unit might not turn on as it won’t allow air to flow through the system. The air filter is in the return air duct, which filters our dust and dirt from the air. It should filter the air before it gets inside the AC unit. Should the air filter be clogged, it will need cleaning or replacing.
Take a look at the drain pan
You must also check out the drain pan below the evaporator coil (indoor unit). If it’s full of water, use an old towel or shop vac to soak it up. Also, use some water or a warm pitcher to remove mold or debris in the pan. The AC drain pipe is probably a white PVC pipe that connects to the AC. You must remove the drain line and suck out all clogs with a shop vac.
The AC motor has failed
The AC capacitor is responsible for charging the air conditioner. If the capacitor is faulty, the AC unit can no longer turn on. Testing the capacitor can show if that’s the case for your AC unit. Start with turning off the AC and cutting the power supply before testing the motor with a multimeter.
When there’s nothing wrong with the motor, the capacitor is causing the AC unit not to turn on. If the motor is defective, you must buy a new one or even a brand-new AC unit.
