Stay calm, stay safe
Emergency AC Checklist: What to Do Before Your Technician Arrives
It's 2 AM, the house is warming up, and help is on the way. These safe, simple checks take five minutes, and sometimes they fix it. If not, you'll give your technician a head start.
Safe homeowner checks only · 5 minutes · 24/7 dispatch
Safety First: When NOT to Touch Anything
If you smell burning or electrical odor, see sparking, or find water pooling near electrical components, stop here: turn the system off at the thermostat (and the breaker if you can reach it safely), don't investigate further, and call (615) 637-1254 now. Everything below is for situations with no burning smell, no sparking, and no flooding, just a system that won't cool.
The 5-Minute Checklist
- Check the thermostat. Is it set to COOL (not HEAT or OFF), with the setpoint below room temperature? Replace the batteries if the display is dim or blank.
- Check the breaker panel. Look for the HVAC or AC breaker. If it's tripped, reset it once. If it trips again, stop and call us.
- Check the air filter. A filter packed solid with dust can choke airflow enough to freeze the coil or trip safety switches. If it's filthy, replace it.
- Check the condensate drain. Many systems have an overflow safety switch that shuts everything down when the drain backs up. If you see a small PVC pipe with a switch and standing water, that's likely your culprit, note it for the technician.
- Check the outdoor unit. Is the disconnect switch (the gray box on the wall nearby) in the ON position? Is the unit buried in debris? Don't open any panels, just observe.
- Check your vents. Walk the house quickly: is air moving at all, or is the system completely dead? Tell the dispatcher what you found, it helps us send the right tech with the right parts.
What NOT to Do
- Don't open electrical panels on the indoor or outdoor unit. Capacitors store a charge even with power off.
- Don't add refrigerant. It's not a DIY product, and low refrigerant means a leak that needs finding.
- Don't keep resetting a tripped breaker. Once is a test; twice is a warning you're ignoring.
- Don't pour drain cleaner into the condensate line, it can damage the pan and coil.
- Don't run a frozen system. If you see ice on the refrigerant lines, turn the system off and let it thaw. Running it frozen risks compressor damage.
Call Now or Wait Until Morning?
Call now if anyone at home is elderly, very young, or has a health condition affected by heat; if you smell burning or see sparking; or if water is leaking near electrical parts. Waiting until morning is reasonable if the house is simply warm and everyone is comfortable enough, you'll avoid the after-hours premium. When you call, describe what the checklist revealed and we'll give you an honest recommendation either way.
Related Reading
Your Questions, Answered
My AC stopped working at night. What should I check first?
Check three things: the thermostat (correct mode and setting, working batteries), the breaker panel (a tripped HVAC breaker), and the air filter (a completely clogged filter can shut some systems down). These safe checks solve a surprising number of midnight no-cooling calls.
Is it safe to keep resetting a tripped AC breaker?
Reset it once. If it trips again, stop. A breaker that keeps tripping is protecting you from an electrical fault, and forcing it can damage the system or create a fire risk. Call for service instead of resetting it repeatedly.
There's water around my indoor AC unit. What do I do?
Turn the system off at the thermostat to stop more condensation, and don't let water sit on flooring. A clogged condensate drain is the usual cause. If there's a lot of water or it's near electrical components, call for emergency service rather than investigating further.
Should I call for emergency service or wait until morning?
Call now if anyone in the home is elderly, very young, or has a health condition affected by heat; if you smell burning or see sparking; or if water is leaking near electrical parts. If the home is simply warm and everyone is comfortable enough, waiting until morning can save the after-hours premium, we'll tell you honestly which it is.
What will the technician do when they arrive?
They'll run a full diagnostic, checking electrical components, refrigerant charge, airflow, and the drain system, then show you what's wrong and give you the repair price in writing before any work starts. Our service process page walks through every step.
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