2 Air Conditioning System Repairs That Fix A Tripped Float Switch
Posted on: 4 January 2023
If you come home from work on a muggy day and your AC isn't working, it's hard to know the cause until you or an air conditioning system repair technician has checked into the issue. The problem might be a tripped circuit breaker or a clogged filter. You can fix these problems yourself, but if those aren't the issue, you'll probably need a repair professional's help. A few things can prevent your AC from starting up. One of them is a tripped float switch.
You may not even realize your AC has a float switch until it shuts down your equipment due to some malfunction. It operates as a safety mechanism, so it's a good thing to have, but it can surprise you when it keeps your AC from running. Here are two AC repairs that might be needed when the float switch trips.
1. Fix the Drain Line
The float switch is in the condensation area of your air handler. Condensation forms on the evaporator coil and then drips into the pan below. If for some reason the pan fills up with water and overflows, water could cause damage to the air handler or your floor. To prevent this, the switch signals your AC to shut down until repairs are made and the switch resets.
One reason for a full drain pan is a clog in the drain. The drain goes from the pan to the outside. In humid summer weather, algae might grow thick in the drain and clog it up. If water can't empty out, the pan will back up with water just like a clog in a sink drain.
To fix this problem, the air conditioning repair technician can take the drain apart to clean it so the clog clears. Once the water level in the pan drops, the technician can reset the switch so your AC can start up again.
2. Replace The Switch
When the repair technician checks the drain, they may find there is no clog in the system. They might suspect the switch is bad, and they can verify if it's bad by using a multimeter to test the part. If the switch is bad, the repair technician has to replace it with a new one. Once the float switch is replaced and the water level in the pan is low, your AC should start up right away and start getting your house cooled down.
While it might seem unhandy that a small switch can shut down your AC, it's better for that to happen than for water to spill over onto the floor. If your AC is out of sight, you might not know about the problem until you spot water damage or smell mold. An air conditioner creates a lot of water from condensation when it's hot and humid outside, so keeping the drain system and float switch in good repair is important.
To learn more, contact an AC system repair service in your area such as 72 DEGREES HVAC INC.
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