Troubleshooting Common Central Air Conditioning Problems

Posted: August 18, 2025

Follow Our Checklist Before Calling for Service

The heat and humidity have made this summer in the Delaware Valley uncomfortable at times. The hot weather has really kept our cooling service technicians on the move. Time and again, they’ve responded as quickly as possible when customers call to report that their central air conditioning system has stopped working.

However, it may be possible for you to help us lighten the load somewhat if you follow the troubleshooting checklist shown below the next time you have a cooling equipment problem. In some cases, the solution may be a simple one that you can take care of by yourself. In doing so, you’ll save yourself a service call. Of course, if the problem is a complicated one that requires our expertise, we’re only too happy to help.

For future reference, we suggest you bookmark this troubleshooting guide from our website.

What to Do If Your Cooling System Doesn’t Run

• Start with your thermostat. Make sure it is on the “cool” or “auto” setting. Also, is the temperature set about 5 degrees lower than room temperature? If you have a digital thermostat and the display screen is blank, you either need new batteries, or the power supply has been interrupted.
• Test other appliances or lights. There may have been a power outage in your neighborhood.
• Check all power switches/sources for the central air conditioner. A circuit may have tripped when the cooling system started up.

Do This if Your Air Conditioner Runs, But There’s No Cool Air

• Shut off all power switches and check the condition of the air filter in your air handler (the part of the a/c system that’s inside your home). The filter may be clogged. Change/clean the air filter if it’s dirty.
• Make sure your supply and return air grilles are open and unobstructed.

If you can’t find what’s wrong after taking these steps, call us so we can come out and diagnose the problem.

Tip: Prevent problems by keeping an eye on the air filter and replacing or cleaning it when necessary. Inexpensive disposable filters should be checked at least once a month. You can extend this a month or two longer if you have higher-quality pleated filters. Make sure the system’s power is off before you remove the filter. A clean filter means lower bills because your cooling system will run more efficiently.

Air Conditioning Repair Service in Media, PA

A properly installed and maintained air conditioning system will have fewer breakdowns than one that has been neglected. But if you need air conditioning repair, we’ll get your system running again as quickly as possible. With advanced training in the latest cooling systems, the Wilson Oil and Propane team is ready to manage any cooling system repair for all brands, from simple to complex. We’ll fix your system quickly, arriving with a truck full of tools and a full array of replacement parts to complete the job right the first time.

Wilson Oil & Propane is an HVAC company that people in the Delaware Valley region of southeast Pennsylvania, northern Delaware and southern New Jersey can depend on when they need expert air conditioning service.

Besides repairs, our team of professional technicians can expertly manage all types of HVAC services, from vital annual air conditioning maintenance to top-quality air conditioning equipment replacement. We also provide air conditioning service plans to help keep your cooling system running problem-free.

Become a Wilson Oil and Propane customer and start meeting The People You Can Trust! Contact us today.