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How to Restart an AC Compressor

How to Restart an AC Compressorthumbnail
Always turn off the proper breakers before beginning this fix.

On occasion, a home air conditioning system will fail to come on at the beginning of the season or after a power outage. Before you call a professional, take a few minutes and follow a few simple steps to restart it yourself.

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    Difficulty:
    Moderately Easy

    Instructions

    Things You'll Need

    • Access to home thermostat and master circuit breaker box
      • 1

        Turn the control on the thermostat to "Off."

      • 2

        Locate the breakers for the air conditioning and heating circuits in the main circuit breaker box. Usually these breakers consist of connecting pairs, since they involve 240 volt circuits.

      • 3

        Pull the heating and air conditioning circuit breakers to the "Off" position. Leave them off for five minutes, and then turn them back to "On."

      • 4

        Adjust the temperature setting on the thermostat to at least four degrees warmer than the room temperature reading.

      • 5

        Turn the system back on by moving the thermostat switch to "Cool."

      • 6

        Move the temperature adjustment on the thermostat to four or more degrees cooler than the room temperature.

      • 7

        Wait three minutes, then place your hand near one of the vents. Hopefully you will feel cool air coming through the vent. If not, call a qualified repairman.

    Tips & Warnings

    • Troubleshooting your heating system would be similar, except that you should start with a thermostat setting cooler than the room temperature.

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    References

    • Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images

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    Comments

    • Kilogramm Aug 12, 2008
      This is great info!
    • duncan411 Jul 31, 2008
      Awesome article!
    • krazigirl79 Jul 19, 2008
      This just happened in my office- it was horrible! I am in California and since we have no budget (as of July 18), they postponed replacing the air conditioning compressor for an entire month during 105+ degree weather, lol! Who knows, maybe all we needed was a reset! Gotta love the state! Great article- thanks!
    • Heather Schulte Jul 09, 2008
      I didn't know this. Thanks!
    • Heather Schulte Jul 09, 2008
      I didn't know this. Thanks!

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